JIC Recovery Release No. 30 - Disaster Recovery Center Open; SBA Business Recovery Center Open; DoAg Update - GHS OCD

Disaster Recovery Center Opened:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with other federal and local partners, opened the first Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Guam Community College (GCC), Building E, today. The DRC at GCC will be open seven days a week from 7 am –7 pm.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. The DRC will be open to assist island residents impacted by Typhoon Mawar with disaster relief programs. Please be advised that the Guam Police Department will be conducting crowd control and traffic direction within the GCC parking lot. Additional centers will be announced soon to support the needs of the community.

A DRC may be able to help you:

Apply for FEMA Assistance online
Learn more about disaster assistance programs
Learn the status of your FEMA application
Understand any letters you get from FEMA
Find housing and rental assistance information
Get answers to questions or resolve problems
Get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance
Learn about Small Business Administration (SBA) programs

Please have the following available when you arrive:

Valid form of identification: Driver’s license, Guam ID or Passport

Proof of home address (i.e. utility bill, rental agreement, etc.)
Condition of your damaged home
Insurance information, if available
Social Security card or number
Best contact number
Mailing address or email address

Guam homeowners and renters who were affected by Typhoon Mawar can also 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.

To date, over 8,000 Guam residents have applied for disaster assistance.

SBA Business Recovery Center Open:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened an SBA Business Recovery Center in Guam on Saturday, June 3, to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by Typhoon Mawar. The SBA Business Recovery Center is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the U.S. SBA Guam Branch Office, 400 Route 8, Suite 302, Hagatna, Guam, 96910.

Guam Small Business Development Center business advisors can provide business assistance to clients on a wide variety of matters designed to help small business owners re-establish their operations, overcome the effects of the disaster and plan for their future.

Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. These loans cover losses that are not fully covered by insurance or other recoveries.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

For business owners who are unable to visit the business recovery center, they may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information.

The deadline to apply for property damage is July 27, 2023. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Feb. 28, 2024.

DOAG Begins Crop Loss Compensation Assessment:

The Guam Department of Agriculture (DOAG) Agriculture Development Services Division (ADS) will be initiating the application process to assist Guam’s farmers and ranchers with recovery from loss after Super Typhoon Mawar. Preliminary assessments conducted by the ADS division estimates farmers are experiencing 90% - 100% loss.

The Crop Loss Compensation Program (CLCP) provides monetary relief to farmers and ranchers for losses to crops, livestock and/or property, due to natural disasters. Compensation does not cover 100% of the loss but serves more as a recovery support to help farmers and ranchers start fresh.

Priority is given to eligible farmers/ranchers who meet all three of the following criteria:

Registered with DOAG ADS as Bona Fide farmers/ranchers;
Engaged in the commercial production of crops (vegetables/fruit trees) and/or livestock; and
Current and in good standing with production reports (due every six months from date of certification)

Registered subsistence farmers and unregistered commercial and unregistered subsistence farmers will be assessed and considered after all commercial farmers, in good standing, are processed. Registered farmers are required to report their crops and/or livestock quantities and update their Bona Fide six-month reports prior to a storm occurrence. Not reporting prior to the storm does not exclude you from this opportunity. Rather, this advanced notification allows ADS to expedite the processing of their claims. Pertinent information to know for next week:

Applications for Crop Loss Compensation will be available starting Monday, June 05th.
Applicants have 10 working days to submit applications with all required documents and/or pictures.
Documents that assist with processing include: valid identification, listing of crops/livestock losses and amounts (acreage or count), list of equipment lost, timesheets and employment contracts for labor, total acreage farmed, receipts (crop/livestock purchases, fertilizers, water usage, fuel, etc.).

ADS personnel will be stationed at the following locations to issue applications and provide application guidance:

June 05, 10am to 4pm – Northern location: Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Guam, Southern location: Inalåhan Mayor’s Office
June 06, 10am to 4pm – Northern location: Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Guam, Southern location: Inalåhan Mayor’s Office
June 07 – 20, 8am to 5pm – Department of Agriculture in Mangilao, two story Wildlife building

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to bring valid identification and receipts for items they will claim. The last day to submit applications is June 20 at 4:30 p.m.

As a reminder, any farmer selling produce commercially must comply with Guam law 5 GCA Chapter 68 subsection 68101 (d) and be registered with DOAG ADS as a Bona Fide farmer.

In an effort to support farmers and ranchers with all possible programs available, USDA Farm Services Agency will also be on site to provide information about available federal farmer/rancher programs.

For more information contact the DOAG ADS at agriculture@doag.guam.gov, or (671) 300-7973/7972/7967.

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.

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.

JIC Recovery Release No. 30 - Disaster Recovery Center Open; SBA Business Recovery Center Open; DoAg Update