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JIC Release No. 25 - Road Hazards Update; Utilities Update; Telecommunications Update

Road Hazards Update

At 11:55 a.m., the Guam Police Department (GPD) reported Chalan Palasyo (Snake Road), Maina is impassable due to a downed tree. The community is reminded to remain indoors until Condition of Readiness (COR) 4. If movement is absolutely necessary, use extreme caution. Be aware of dangerous hazards, including downed power lines, damaged trees, and debris in the roadway. Assume all downed lines are live and dangerous.

 

GPA Current Island-Wide Power System Status and Other Power Related Updates

The following is Guam Power Authority’s current status of the Island-Wide Power System (IWPS) and other Power Related Updates:

  • Guam’s Island-Wide Power System did not experience a system blackout during the storm, however it was separated into two systems - north and south.

  • GPA’s Dededo Combustion Turbine (CT) 1 & 2 units continue to supply power to northern loads, including Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), the Tumon hotel row underground system, Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) and Camp Blaz Marine Base with a current output of 15 megawatts (MW).

  • Piti 7 CT unit remained operational throughout the storm, delivering power through a single transmission line to Naval Station Guam and other naval facilities, and is presently supplying a load demand of 3 MW

  • All other GPA power plant units are currently offline and are being prepared to come online as substations and distribution lines are repaired and load demand increases.

  • Ukudu Power Plant units was online through the storm until late Tuesday night. Other units were on standby.

  • GPA does not anticipate any generation capacity shortage, and plans to restore power service using GPA reserve units, and then through the base load Ukudu Power Plant units as loads increase.

  • All GPA crews secured late last night during the peak of the storm when heavy wind and gusts made conditions unsafe and dangerous to continue both bucket truck aerial lifting and ground work.

  • Early this morning, several of those crews were out patrolling lines and clearing hazardous debris from lines and roads. Heavy wind speeds prevented repairs due to unsafe conditions for bucket truck aerial lifting.

  • Each GPA crew will be working at least 12-16 hours per day.  Evening crews will also be available.

  • GPA confirms that it has sufficient inventory including poles, wires and transformers, as well as adequate crews and equipment to complete repairs


Key Action Plans Underway:

  • Restoration Crews have received assignments and safety briefings and have been deployed to the field.  All Repair and restoration efforts are performed under the direction of line supervisors who will determine whether conditions are safe to begin all repair, including any aerial lift work.

  • Initial priorities include repairing transmission lines and synchronizing (tie-in) the northern and southern systems, followed by restoring the island-wide transmission loop around the island. This would bring power to all substations in sequence on both the eastern and western side of the island.

  • Next, once substations are energized, personnel will inspect and ensure electrical equipment are ready to distribute power to distribution feeders (circuits) in the area, which feeds customer’s homes and businesses.

  • Each substation would go through similar activation. There are 29 substations on the island, several of which are already energized.

  • As substations are cleared, GPA’s Power System Control Center (PSCC) will begin closing (powering up) feeders at the substation. Feeders without damage or faults will energize and stay on. Those feeders with faults will be identified as needing repairs and will be repaired as crews complete their assigned transmission work.

  • GPA is aware of all customer outages throughout the island. Guam Power Authority’s Automated Meter Infrastructure, or Smart Meter Network, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems will provide detailed information on outage locations. These systems allow GPA to confirm where power has been restored, identify customers still without service, and locate smaller outage pockets within villages.

  • We ask our customers to limit calls to our GPA Dispatch center to critical issues such as down lines on the ground, blown transformers and low voltages being experienced at homes or businesses and other more serious and significant issues.

  • Please stay away from all down lines and equipment as they may still be energized and can cause harm if you come in contact with the lines or equipment. Consider such situations as dangerous and life threatening. If such conditions are present, please immediately report this situation to GPA's 24-Hour Trouble Dispatch at (671) 475-1472/3/4 or via direct message on GPA’s Facebook or Instagram page. Please provide the exact location or address, contact information and condition of location.

  • For proper use of a generator, GPA asks that you ensure your main breakers are opened (off position) when operating your private generator.  This is for the safety of the crews and your equipment.

 

GPA will provide an update on the status of post-typhoon recovery/restoration and the Island-Wide Power System at around 2:00 p.m. daily. GPA thanks the public for their patience and asks for your understanding, as we work on restoring power to the island and bring the system back to a normal state. 

Please visit www.guampowerauthority.com and GPA’s social media pages for more information and more storm preparedness tips. 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuamPowerAuthority

Instagram: https://instagram.com/guampowerauthority

 

GWA Update: 

Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) personnel are performing facility assessments at water and wastewater treatment plants, sewer lift stations, booster pumps, reservoirs and wells. GWA is aware of outages throughout the island as a result of the super typhoon. Low to no water pressure service has been reported in parts of Barrigada, Dededo, Maite, Mangilao, Sinajana, Yigo and Yona.

As of 10:50 a.m., 72 wells remain online, with six (6) wells on the island-wide power system, and 66 wells on standby power generation. As of 9:38 a.m., the Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant (USWTP) was placed back online as turbidity levels in the Ugum River improved to regulatory treatment limits. USWTP is producing water on standby power generation.

Partial treatment is occurring at the Agat-Santa Rita and Northern wastewater treatment plants as these plants are without power. No reports of backups or sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) have been reported to GWA at this time.

 

GWA Urges Water Conservation

As GWA personnel work to restore reservoir levels and system pressure, the community is advised to practice strict water conservation during recovery efforts. Refrain from washing vehicles and pressure washing or flushing driveways and sidewalks and limit water use in the kitchen and bathroom. Non-essential water usage may place unnecessary stress on pressure within the water distribution system. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of backups and sewer overflows if wastewater pump and plant operations are affected by the storm – reducing proper collection of wastewater from customers connected to GWA’s sewer.

The Guam Power Authority (GPA) continues working closely with GWA to restore power to wells impacted by the storm.

Customers are urged to contact GWA dispatch by calling 671-646-4211 or emailing dispatch@guamwaterworks.org to report any water issues like low to no water pressure, and wastewater issues like backups and SSOs. GWA crews will respond to reports as soon as weather conditions permit.

For information, contact GWA’s 24/7 phone line at (671) 646-4211 or go to www.facebook.com/guamwaterworksauthority.

 

Telecommunications Update:

GTA Update as of 10:35 a.m., April 15

  • All 6 main locations are operational and running on generators.

  • One Regional Exchange Center (REC) is currently down in Agat due to power issues.

  • Cell Sites: 55% of cell sites are operational.

  • Visual inspections of the landline and wireless networks will begin at noon today, once winds have subsided. Initial assessments indicate limited damage.

 

IT&E Update as of 11:25 a.m., April 15

  • Assessments of its fiber & mobility network are actively being conducted to identify and address any damages impacting service.

  • Technical teams have been deployed across the island to support restoration efforts and ensure generators and other temporary power solutions are operational at cell sites to maintain network operations.  

  • Restoration efforts are being prioritized to support critical hub sites and sites supporting government operations, healthcare facilities, and first responders.  Efforts will also focus on restoring services to the general population in the timeliest manner possible.

 

Visit the following links for the latest information:

 

The GBHWC Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains operational 24/7. The community may call or text the hotline at 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. 

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10

 

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