Guam Homeland Security - Office of Civil Defense

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.

FEMA Accepting Youth Preparedness Council Applications

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for members to join their Youth Preparedness Council.

Read more about FEMA Accepting Youth Preparedness Council Applications

GHS/OCD Host Guam Mitigation Strategies and Opportunities Workshop

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC), will host the Guam Mitigation Strategies and Opportunities Workshop on Monday, March 25 – Tuesday, March 26, 2019, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Westin Resort Tumon Guam.

The event theme is “Mitigating Guam’s Earthquake and Tsunami Risk,” and will provide a forum to discuss Guam’s mitigation strategies and opportunities involving other hazards and risks as well.

Read more about GHS/OCD Host Guam Mitigation Strategies and Opportunities Workshop

Circulation Poses No Direct Threat to the Marianas; NWS Advisories in Effect

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continue to monitor an area of disturbed weather, referred to as Invest 95W, with scattered to numerous showers that moved over western Chuuk State. The circulation is expected to move over eastern Yap State by today. Showers are also expected to move to the Republic of Palau on Saturday and continue through Sunday.

Read more about Circulation Poses No Direct Threat to the Marianas; NWS Advisories in Effect

Circulation Passed Near Chuuk Overnight; No Threat to the Marianas

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continue to monitor a tropical disturbance (Invest 95W) that passed near Chuuk overnight.

The system remains disorganized as it continues to move west and development of the system is not expected at this time. NWS advised models indicate no development in the coming days, but it will maintain a surface trough that will eventually head to Yap and Palau.

Read more about Circulation Passed Near Chuuk Overnight; No Threat to the Marianas

GHS/OCD Install Trailer-Mounted Sirens; Test to be Conducted in Mangilao

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) are in the process of finalizing the installment of two trailer-mounted sirens as part of an ongoing initiative to improve mass notification and advanced warning systems.

The first trailer-mounted siren was installed today at Assumption Drive, Piti. The second trailer-mounted siren will be installed tomorrow, March 14, 2019 at the George Washington High School and tested between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Read more about GHS/OCD Install Trailer-Mounted Sirens; Test to be Conducted in Mangilao

GHS/OCD Host Community Planning for Disaster Recovery Training

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in coordination with the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC), will host the “Community Planning for Disaster Recovery” training on Friday, March 22, 2019 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the GHS/OCD facility, Agana Heights.

Read more about GHS/OCD Host Community Planning for Disaster Recovery Training

GHS/OCD Host Community Resilience Training

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in coordination with the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC), will host the “Community Resilience (AWR-228)” training on Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the GHS/OCD facility, Agana Heights.