2020 Service Learning, and Youth and Community Preparedness Summit

The Guam Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), the Youth Preparedness Program, the Service Leaning Committee, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will host the 2020 Service Learning, and Youth and Community Preparedness Summit over the course of three days:

· “Service Learning, and Youth and Community Preparedness Summit” for educators and community partners in training – Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 15 and 16, 2020 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the University of Guam, School of Business Bldg., Room 129
· “Service Learning, and Youth and Community Preparedness Summit” for 8th grade students – Friday, Jan. 17, 2020 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort

The theme of the summit is “Community Resilience: Harvesting Young Minds through Service Learning” and it is intended to provide students and teachers with information to create and promote Service Learning opportunities, increase engagement and enthusiasm in the ability to give back to the community, increase students’ knowledge about “civic responsibility,” and promote disaster preparedness and awareness by utilizing a whole-community approach.

The summit includes two tracks: Wednesday, January 15 through Thursday, January 16, focusing on educators and community partners, which helps teachers integrate service learning into their classes. The two-day session topics include the perspective on protecting the region, wildfire prevention and service learning curriculum, safety and sustainability, implementation of plant-based strategies into schools, and an outdoor field activity on the second day.

Friday, January 17, will focus on students and opportunities to engage in community preparedness work, connect community partners with students and educators, and review a plethora of topics including leadership, civic responsibility, advocacy in service to the community, and youth preparedness. Presentations will be provided by the Pacific Human Resource Services, Department of Education, volunteer program coordinator, Guam Youth Preparedness Program, along with keynote speaker Gen Tamura, Emergency Management Specialist, FEMA Region IX.

“The summit is an opportunity to provide students with the resources needed to excel in different Service Learning opportunities,” stated Charles Esteves, Office of Civil Defense Administrator. “We look forward to the outcome of the summit, where the students learn of the community’s needs and are able to connect resources to be part of the solution, even in emergency situations.”

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Whole-Community Program Manager, Jaimie Cruz at (671) 688-0438 or via email at jaimie.cruz@ghs.guam.gov. For media inquiries, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna 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

X
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.