Press Release - 98W Maintains Course Toward the Marianas; Use the Weekend to Prepare - GHS OCD

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office continues to monitor Invest 98W as it becomes better organized. 98W is now the subject of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, indicating further strengthening into a tropical depression is likely within 24 hours. As it approaches and strengthens, heavy rainfall and flooding concerns will develop for the Marianas.

What to Expect
There is a high likelihood that 98W will pass through the Marianas as a tropical storm or weak typhoon, possibly around Tuesday night. The latest forecasts now show 6 to 10 inches of rainfall are likely, with locally higher amounts near 12 inches possible. Strong wind gusts to 40 mph are possible with heavier showers or thunderstorms that develop. Waves may increase into the 10-to-14-foot range as fresh to strong sustained winds potentially develop, with near gale force gusts possible.

Response Efforts Underway
Officials, Mayors, and Emergency Operations Center personnel are receiving updated weather briefs for their response planning efforts. The Guam Department of Public Works has pre-staged heavy equipment in flood-prone areas islandwide.

More than 200 FEMA personnel are currently deployed in Guam, with more resources in transit, preparing for the possible incoming severe weather. The FEMA distribution center in Guam is ready to support and provide commodities if needed to both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. FEMA staff are coordinating with the territory and commonwealth leadership to integrate respective leads and identify resources that may be needed for the upcoming storm.

Use the Weekend to Prepare
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautionary actions:

Those living in flood-prone areas should take action now; clear drainage areas and unblock storm drains to minimize flooding;
Stay up to date with the latest information;
Clear loose debris around your yard and store any items that may become airborne with heavy winds, such as canopies, tarps, and trampolines, before inclement weather arrives;
Have an emergency kit prepared: Store enough food and water for your household for 7-10 days. Include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies;
Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag;
Review your emergency plan: If you do not have a plan, learn how to create an emergency plan; Have plans for your family members and pets. If you are a person with disabilities or a caregiver for elderly, you may need to take extra steps to plan for those additional needs.
Get emergency alerts: Stay informed by having a weather alert radio, battery-operated, or hand-crank radio, where you can listen to emergency news;
Gas your vehicles and get fuel for your generators;
Pull cash from the ATM in case of power outages;
Don’t drive through flood waters: Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low-lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Visit the following links for the latest information:

NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/
Build A Kit | Ready.gov
Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources (weather.gov)
National Hurricane Preparedness | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)

>Tips to Prepare

> WRN TXT 1 (OCT7, 9AM)

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.

Press Release - 98W Maintains Course Toward the Marianas; Use the Weekend to Prepare