Executive Order Signed; 2019 Guam State Hazard Mitigation Plan in Place

The 2019 Guam Hazard Mitigation Plan (Guam HMP) has been approved and adopted for Guam. On Friday, July 26, then Acting Governor Joshua Tenorio signed Executive Order No. 2019-18, adopting and enacting the 2019 Guam HMP, which supersedes the 2014 Guam HMP.

Guam’s geographic location makes it more vulnerable to the effects of both natural and human-made threats. The Guam HMP is a comprehensive strategy that focuses on mitigating and reducing Guam’s exposure and vulnerability to those natural and human-made disasters.

State hazard mitigation plans must be updated and resubmitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval every five years. The FEMA Region IX, Mitigation Division has approved the Guam HMP effective July 26, 2019 through July 26, 2024, in accordance with the planning requirements of Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 201.4, Standard State Hazard Mitigation Plans. Significant updates from the 2014 plan to 2019 are the identified additions to the mitigation actions for Guam. The mitigation strategy has been expanded and nearly doubled from 2014 to include 60 actionable items.

“Since the Guam HMP was promulgated in 2014, there have been updates to the National Preparedness System. It is important to update our plans and procedures accordingly,” stated Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “The 2019 Guam HMP demonstrates Guam’s continued commitment to reducing the risk of losses from natural and human-made threats and serves as a strategic planning guide for Guam’s decision-makers as they commit resources to reduce the effects of these hazards.”

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

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Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.