JIC Recovery Release No. 23 - Emergency Assistance Underway: FEMA Update, ARC Supplies, HHS Support to Healthcare; Donations Not Accepted at the Shelters; Guam Cancer Care Open; No Burn Notice in Place; GPD Services

FEMA Update:

Guam homeowners and renters who were affected by Typhoon Mawar can register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362, visiting disasterassistance.gov or downloading the application on the FEMA App. For more information about registration, processing and FEMA’s Individual Assistance Programs, visit fema.gov.

When you apply for assistance, have the following information ready:

• A current phone number

• Address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

• Social Security number

• List of damage and losses

• Banking information if you choose direct deposit

• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

Survivors may be eligible to receive assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from Typhoon Mawar. If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses.

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.

Do Not Wait to Clean and Repair:

Residents should not wait for a visit from a FEMA housing inspector or their insurance company to start cleaning up and making repairs. However, you should take photographs of damage and keep recovery-related receipts. Insurance companies may need both photographs and receipts, while FEMA may need receipts.

It is important that you first check for structural damage to your damaged home before entering it and to report it to local officials. Cleanup requires throwing away wet contents like bedding, carpet and furniture because of health issues that may arise with mold. Follow local government guidance for disposing of damaged furnishings and other items.

ARC Emergency Assistance Items:

The American Red Cross (ARC), working alongside village mayors and faith-based organizations, is providing emergency assistance items to residents that have been displaced, or whose homes were destroyed, due to Typhoon Mawar. The following items are made available to those in need:

• Tarp

• Flashlight

• Cooler

• Clean-up kits: squeegee, push brooms, brush, work gloves, latex gloves, bleach, trash bags, sponge

• Bucket

Emergency assistance supplies are available for residents whose homes were destroyed as a result of Typhoon Mawar, meaning a total loss of structure, the structure is not economically feasible to repair, or complete failure to major structural components (e.g., the collapse of basement walls/foundation, walls or roof).

Points of Distribution for today (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) are as follows:

• Sinajana Mayor’s Office

• Hågat Mayor’s Office

• Jeromy Newby Community Youth Center, Talo’fo’fo

• Yigo Gym, Yigo

The American Red Cross continues to provide two (2) meals a day to shelterees within the identified four (4) Government of Guam emergency shelters.

Those wishing to volunteer can visit the American Red Cross Relief site at the main office at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa. Volunteers are asked to present a valid ID for registration purposes. Contact Mary Findley at 1-800-733-2767 for more information.

HHS Support to Healthcare:

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), deployed disaster response personnel from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to Guam to address the health impacts of Typhoon Mawar.

HHS deployed over 48 NDMS Health and Medical Task Force (HMTF) and Incident Management Team (IMT) personnel to support emergency response efforts. Two HMTF teams are providing medical support to Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning and Guam Regional Medical City in Dededo, while IMT members are managing operations, planning, and logistics on the ground. NDMS and IMT personnel, both part of ASPR, are working with FEMA, ASPR Regional Emergency Coordinators, territorial health authorities, and emergency response officials to determine if any additional federal public health and medical resources may be needed to aid in responding to Typhoon Mawar.

HHS’ Disaster Distress Helpline, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone affected by Typhoon Mawar. Callers can connect with counselors in over 100 languages; a videophone option is available to support the deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Additional information about HHS response to Typhoon Mawar can be found at https://aspr.hhs.gov.

USDA Update:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging local sponsors to submit project requests for funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance.

The EWP Program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters. All projects must have a project sponsor. NRCS may bear up to 75 percent of the eligible construction cost of emergency measures (90 percent within limited-resource areas as identified by the U.S. Census data). The remaining costs must come from local sources and can be in the form of cash or in-kind services. EWP is designed for installation of recovery measures to safeguard life and property as a result of a natural disaster. Threats that the EWP Program addresses are termed watershed impairments. These include, but are not limited to:

• debris-clogged waterways,

• unstable streambanks,

• severe erosion jeopardizing public infrastructure,

• wind-borne debris removal, and

• damaged upland sites stripped of protective vegetation by fire or drought.

Funding is available for new projects as well as those already submitted to NRCS. NRCS will give additional consideration to projects in historically underserved communities that directly benefit limited resource areas or socially disadvantaged communities. NRCS will continue to review as funding is available.

Eligible project sponsors include state government entities, local municipalities, conservation districts, and federally-recognized tribal organizations. Sponsors are encouraged to reach out to their local District Conservationist see contact information above and/or their state’s/territorial NRCS Watershed Program Manager John Mathews John.mathews@usda.gov or (808) 600-2922 with watershed concerns as soon as possible to ensure their project request is in the funding queue for consideration.

Donations Not Accepted at the Shelters:

The Guam Department of Education schools that were used for Emergency Shelters from Typhoon Mawar are not accepting donations on site.

For information on how to donate, check in with your village mayor’s office first, to see what the needs are. All pertinent information must be provided beforehand: who the donation is from, what the donation is, and who it is for.

Guam Cancer Care Open

Guam Cancer Care will remain open and accessible for all cancer patients in need of direct support services. These services include but are not limited to: transportation to treatment, patient supplies and pharmaceutical drugs prescribed to them for treatment.

Cancer patients are urged to contact Guam Cancer Care navigators at (671) 929-7207 and (671) 687-0189 to make arrangements to avail of the services offered. Guam Cancer Care navigators will be temporarily housed at varying cancer clinics that remain open to provide the needed cancer treatment to those battling cancer on Guam. The Guam Cancer Care office remains closed at this time until facility communications and utilities are restored.

Guam residents afflicted by cancer are encouraged to contact Guam Cancer Care’s navigators at (671) 929-7207 and (671) 687-0189 to make special arrangements to receive direct support services. For further information regarding Guam Cancer Care’s programs, please contact their office at (671) 929-7207 or (671) 687-0189 or visit them at their website at www.guamcancercare.org.

No Burn Notice Remains in Place:

The Guam Fire Department (GFD) maintains a No Burn Notice for the entire community due to ongoing recovery efforts. GFD is focusing efforts on life and property preservation.

GPD Services:

The Guam Police Department (GPD) Community Service Counters within the ITC and Hakubutan Building will remain closed until adequate power and water is restored. Community services include the Records and ID Section, Recreational Boating and Safety and the Armory. Upon full restoration, GPD will provide operational hours to the community.

Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

• GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/

• GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

• JRM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.