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

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.

Halong Now a Typhoon; No Direct Threat Expected

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continue to monitor what is now Typhoon Halong.

As of 7 a.m., Halong was located 17.0 degrees north latitude and 153.3 degrees east longitude, about 520 miles east-northeast of Saipan and 615 miles east-northeast of Guam. The system is moving northwest at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It is forecast to intensify through Wednesday, though will remain to the east of the Marianas.

Read more about Halong Now a Typhoon; No Direct Threat Expected

Tropical Depression Now Tropical Storm Halong; System Expected to Stay East of the Marianas

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continue to monitor what is now Tropical Storm Halong.

As of 7 a.m., Halong was located 14.1 degrees north latitude and 156.1 degrees east longitude, about 695 miles east of Saipan and 760 miles east of Guam. It is moving northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

There are no watches or warnings in effect for Guam or the Marianas at this time.

Read more about Tropical Depression Now Tropical Storm Halong; System Expected to Stay East of the Marianas

No Direct Impact Expected from Tropical Depression; Continue to Stay Up to Date

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continue to monitor Tropical Depression 24W as it formed north of Pohnpei.

As of 1 a.m., the system was located 13.3 degrees north latitude and 156.7 degrees east longitude, about 745 miles east of Saipan and 805 miles east of Guam. 24W is moving northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 25 mph. It is forecast to strengthen, possibly becoming a tropical storm later today.

There are no watches or warnings in effect for Guam or the Marianas at this time.

Read more about No Direct Impact Expected from Tropical Depression; Continue to Stay Up to Date

No Immediate Threat Assessed from Reported North Korea Missile Test

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in conjunction with the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), federal and military partners, continue to monitor events surrounding the region including reports of the recent launch of an unidentified short-range projectile out of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), today.

Read more about No Immediate Threat Assessed from Reported North Korea Missile Test

Community Invited to Participate in World Tsunami Awareness Day

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), following a worldwide initiative through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), invite the community to celebrate “World Tsunami Awareness Day” on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Read more about Community Invited to Participate in World Tsunami Awareness Day

GHS/OCD and NBG to Conduct Routine Testing of Advanced Warning Systems

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) and U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) will conduct routine testing of the vital communication and advance warning system sirens, respectively, on Tuesday, November 5, starting at 3:15 p.m.

There are now nineteen (19) All Hazards Alert Warning Systems (AHAWS) installed on island. On November 5, GHS/OCD will test the AHAWS from eighteen (18) locations, with the JFK location being the only exception due to a part replacement, in conjunction with NBG monthly routine testing of the “Giant Voice (GV).”

Read more about GHS/OCD and NBG to Conduct Routine Testing of Advanced Warning Systems

Port Authority AHAWS Siren to be Tested Tuesday, October 29

The Port Authority of Guam (PAG) will conduct a test of the All Hazards Alert Warning System (AHAWS) siren remotely from the Port location tomorrow, October 29, 2019, between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.

Residents, visitors and motorists surrounding the PAG AHAWS siren can expect to hear pre-scripted voice messaging announcing the start and end of the test, and the “Alert” tone, which can be heard here: http://www.whelen.com/mass/audio/Euro%20Tones%20Wav%20Files/Alert.wav.

Read more about Port Authority AHAWS Siren to be Tested Tuesday, October 29

Enhancing Cybersecurity Partnerships

Earlier this year, Guam was named as one of the National Governors Association (NGA) seven selected states and territories to work on strategies to enhance nationwide cybersecurity. In line with this effort, the Office of the Governor, Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) and the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), worked with the NGA to host the Policy Academy on Cybersecurity for Guam workshop on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.

Read more about Enhancing Cybersecurity Partnerships

Federal Partnerships Continue

As part of response efforts for Typhoon Bualoi, which passed through the Marianas between October 21 – 22, 2019, the Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX deployed to Guam in the event federal assistance was needed for Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Read more about Federal Partnerships Continue

Community Invited to Participate in "Change Your Password Day"

On September 24, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed a proclamation, declaring October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). NCSAM is a Department of Homeland Security annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. The Internet touches almost all aspects of everyone’s daily life.

Read more about Community Invited to Participate in "Change Your Password Day"

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ABOUT GHS/OCD

ARE YOU READY?

PREPAREDNESS

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

OPERATIONS

CONTACT GHS/OCD

Wildfire

Fire Weather

Drought

Conserve water

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Definition of Terrorism

June 2018 is Typhoon Preparedness Month

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