Stay Vigilant Guam! More Wet Weather and Dangerous Conditions Ahead

With the National Weather Service Guam (NWS) updating their public advisory and alerts, we remind residents and visitors to remain vigilant. With every heavy rain, high seas and wind, GHS/OCD would like you to take the necessary precautionary safety measures.

Floods – those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action.

Clear drainage areas and un-block clogged storm drains in your area to minimize the change of flooding.
Avoid walking or driving through flood water.
Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for alerts or warnings.
If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water as the current may be carrying debris from your surroundings.
Avoid hiking, camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas could flood quickly and with little or no warning.

High seas/Rough waters

Rip currents amount for more than 80 percent of rescues performed by beach life guards and first responders.
Powerful, channeled currents of water flowing can quickly pull swimmer out to sea.
If caught in one, do not fight it. Swim parallel to shore and swim back to land at an angle.
Shorebreak both small and high waves can be equally unpredictable and dangerous.

Driving – in poor visibility due to heavy rainfall

Take your time. Slowing down is the best way to keep your car from hydroplaning.
Turn your lights on. Turning on your headlights helps other vehicles see you.
Give other vehicles a little bit more space. This allows you to a little bit more time to react to traffic.
Be cautious of pedestrians and children who may be crossing or waiting alongside road ways for public transportation. As school is back in session, more children will be occupying our streets either going to or coming from school bus shelters.

Plan ahead, stay informed, get involved and take action. During this wet weather season, GHS/OCD would like you to stay vigilant, and MOST OF ALL, SAFE. You are the help before help arrives.

Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

NWS Website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) remind the community to practice caution if traveling in the rainy conditions.

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Acting Public Information Officer, Dee Cruz at (671) 478-0291 or via email at dee.cruz@ghs.guam.gov.

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.