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.

Community Advised to Be Wary of AI Scams

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense, along with the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), continue to receive reports of purported scams to unassuming recipients. The community is advised to be cautious of generative artificial intelligence (AI) videos, commonly referred to as “deepfake,” to include ones seemingly from known individuals congratulating you on winning a sweepstake or trying to gather personal or financial information from you. By using deepfakes, criminals can target a larger audience and use more realistic methods to disguise their illicit activities.

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High Surf Advisory and High Risk of Rip Currents in Effect; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

A high surf advisory remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 5 p.m. Friday. Large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected along north facing reefs. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

Read more about High Surf Advisory and High Risk of Rip Currents in Effect; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

FEMA Seeks Leaders for Youth Preparedness Council, Application Period Open

Agana Heights, Guam - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for members to join their Youth Preparedness Council, a program that brings teens together from across the nation who are interested and engaged in community preparedness.

Read more about FEMA Seeks Leaders for Youth Preparedness Council, Application Period Open

Press Release - Hazardous Surf and Seas Remain; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

An airport wind advisory is in effect for the Guam International Airport until 6 p.m. Winds of 15 to 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots are possible.

Read more about Press Release - Hazardous Surf and Seas Remain; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

Press Release - GHS-OCD: Adjustments to Protocols and Corrective Action Plan in Response to Audit

Agana Heights, Guam - The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) provide the following statement in light of a program-specific audit by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an investigative audit by the Guam Office of Public Accountability (OPA), recent news articles and sweeping claims based on overtime figures of the agency.

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Press Release - Hazardous Surf and Seas Expected through Sunday; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

A high surf advisory remains in effect for north facing reefs of Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 4 p.m. Sunday. Large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected along north facing reefs. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

Read more about Press Release - Hazardous Surf and Seas Expected through Sunday; Inexperienced Swimmers Advised to Stay Out of the Water

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

GHS/OCD, NBG, and AAFB to Conduct Routine Testing of

Advanced Warning Systems

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG), and Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) will conduct routine testing of the vital communication and advance warning system sirens, respectively, on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, starting at 3:15 p.m.

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

Press Release - High Surf Advisory and High Risk of Rip Currents in Effect through Sunday

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

A high surf advisory is in effect for north facing reefs of Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 4 p.m. Sunday. Large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected along north facing reefs. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

Read more about Press Release - High Surf Advisory and High Risk of Rip Currents in Effect through Sunday

No Immediate Threat Assessed from Reported North Korea Missile Launch

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 a ballistic missile out of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), today.

No immediate threat was assessed for Guam or the Marianas from the reported launch. The offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense will continue to monitor events like these in collaboration with local and federal partners.

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Press Release – No Tsunami Threat to Guam from Local Earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 that occurred 8 miles west of Guam, 3:48pm at a depth of 83 miles.

As advised by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat to Guam or the Marianas at this time. This will be the final statement issued by GHS/OCD unless additional information is received.

For more information, contact Acting Public Information Officer Stephen Cahill at (671) 489-9517 or via email at stephen.cahill@ghs.guam.gov.

Read more about Press Release – No Tsunami Threat to Guam from Local Earthquake

24.4 C / 76 F

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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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