PUBLIC ADVISORY - Flash Flood Warning in Effect for Guam - GHS OCD

The Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) advises residents that the National Weather Service (NWS) Guam has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the entire island of Guam, in effect until 4:00 p.m. ChST today.

Current Conditions
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. At 3:05 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across Guam.
Between 1.2 and 2.4 inches of rain have already fallen, with an additional 2 to 3 inches possible.
Flash flooding may affect small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, and other poor-drainage and low-lying areas.
A strong thunderstorm is also affecting Guam, with wind gusts up to 40 mph and frequent lightning possible.

What You Should Do Now

Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Never drive through flooded roadways. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Move to higher ground if you are in a flood-prone or low-lying area.
Avoid creeks, streams and drainage areas, which can rise rapidly.
Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around by strong winds.
Seek safe shelter inside a building or vehicle during lightning.
Report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement when it is safe to do so.
Continue monitoring official updates from NWS Guam and GHS/OCD.

GHS/OCD continues to monitor conditions in coordination with NWS Guam and will provide additional information as needed.

For the latest official weather information, visit weather.gov/gum. For preparedness information, visit ghs.guam.gov or contact GHS/OCD at (671) 475-9600.

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.

PUBLIC ADVISORY - Flash Flood Warning in Effect for Guam