Heavy Rains Cause Flooding on Guam; Practice Extreme Caution

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero met with key officials early this morning at the Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) to discuss plans in place for any flood impacts for the island and to receive a brief update from the National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office, about what is expected. NWS advised 2-3 inches of rain has already fallen each day and an additional 1-2 inches is possible today. The ground is already saturated, causing flooding and overflow.

As the monsoon trough continues across the Marianas, bringing heavy winds and rains, partner agencies are working to mitigate the effects as much as possible. Governor Leon Guerrero has directed the Guam Army National Guard (GUNG) engineers from the 1224th Engineer Support Company to work closely with the Department of Public Works with road clearing assets and personnel to clear debris from storm drains and roadways, as needed.

GHS/OCD, along with the Office of the Governor, is working closely with the Mayors Council of Guam to identify flood prone locations and stage proper equipment to mitigate flood impacts. This is an ongoing effort as rain is expected throughout the rest of the week.

NWS maintain the flash flood watch in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through Wednesday night. Flash flooding could become life-threatening very quickly and there is a possibility for mud slides or landslides in torrential rain, especially in the south.

The MCoG has reported flooding in the following areas:

Santa Ana Ln., Asan
Nino Perdido St., Asan
Chalan Palsyo, across War Pacific Museum, Adelup
Dairy Rd., Mangilao
Assumption Rd., Piti
A. Quenga St., Piti
Mary ‘n Peling St., Piti
Masso River, Piti
Belen Avenue, going up to Inarajan Middle School
Pale Duenas, leading to Inarajan Swimming Pool
Old Ysrael Apartments
Malojloj Highway, across the former Poultry Farm
Umatac Bridge Area
Jose A. Quinata St., Umatac
San Dionisio St., across GWA Station and uphill towards Ft. Soledad, Umatac
Barcinas/Baza area, Merizo
Doma Cruz area, Merizo
Espinosa Avenue Bridge, Merizo
Quinene Rd., Merizo

Residents and visitors are advised to take precautionary actions:

Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Immediately move to higher ground if flash flooding occurs. Water levels can rise rapidly and sweep people away. Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away
Stay away from storm drains, culverts, creeks, and streams.
If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. If the water is moving, do not leave the car.
Avoid camping, parking, or hiking along streams, rivers, and creeks while the advisories are in place. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
Visit https://www.ready.gov/floods to learn more.

GHS/OCD remind residents and visitors to practice extreme caution while traveling in rainy conditions, driving below the speed limit and allowing enough braking distance between vehicles. Avoid floodwaters and use alternate routes if flooding is encountered.

To report impassable roads, contact GHS/OCD at (671) 475-9600. For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@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.