JIC Recovery Release No. 76 - Americorps Chainsaw Debris Program Launches; Ypao Point Disaster Debris Disposal Site Update; D-SNAP Updates - GHS OCD

Americorps Chainsaw Debris Program Launches;
Ypao Point Disaster Debris Disposal Site Update;
D-SNAP Updates

Americorps Chainsaw Debris Program Launches

At the request of Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Americorps Disaster Response Teams launched the Americorps Chainsaw Debris Program today. The free service provides for the removal of trees on private residential property that pose an immediate threat to health and safety. A total of 25 team members and staff, along with their chainsaws and tools, arrived on Guam to support the program.

To apply for help, residents should contact their mayor’s office to complete an application. The property owner will have to sign a right of entry form authorizing AmeriCorps to do the work. This can be completed with the Mayor’s Office at the time of the application or with the AmeriCorps team when they visit to assess the property. Eligible households will be contacted by phone when teams are available to clear their trees. Trees will be cut, and debris will be hauled to the right of way. The speed of debris removal will depend on the number of requests received and the size of the impacted areas. The program will prioritize veterans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, or others with access or functional needs. The AmeriCorps Chainsaw Debris Project will end on July 28, 2023.

This project was made possible through close collaboration between FEMA, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Serve Guam Commission, Crisis Cleanup and Americorps to support residents needing tree cutting work. AmeriCorps programs sending personnel include Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, American Conservation Experience, American Youth Works’ Texas Conservation Corps and Louisiana Conservation Corps and SBP (formerly Saint Bernard Project).

Ypao Point Disposal Site Update – HHW, E-Waste, and Household Trash Disposal Ends July 8

The Ypao Point disaster debris disposal site in Tamuning will discontinue accepting household hazardous waste (HHW), electronic waste (E-Waste), and household trash after Saturday, July 8, 2023. Residents seeking disposal of these waste types at Ypao Point are urged to visit the site now through Friday, July 7, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The old transfer station at Dededo and the former Tiyan carnival grounds at Barrigada discontinued operations on July 3.

HHW may consist of paints, oils, thinners, pesticides, chemical cleaners, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and E-Waste and should not be discarded with household trash or poured down drains. For no-cost HHW disposal options, please consult with the Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA) by CLICKING HERE or the Guam Environmental Protection Agency by visiting www.epa.guam.gov/recycling/. Residents should be advised that Guam Solid Waste Authority is temporarily not accepting liquid hazardous waste.

GSWA residential transfer stations in Harmon, Hagåt and Malojloj are open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents are urged to dispose of household trash at any of these three stations for a nominal fee. Non-liquid HHW and E-Waste can be disposed of at the GSWA residential transfer station in Harmon. For more information on GSWA’s policies and fees associated with the use of residential transfer stations, please visit guamsolidwasteauthority.com or CLICK HERE.

Green waste, wood waste, metallic waste, white goods, and construction waste will still be accepted after July 8. As a reminder, junk tires, junk vehicles, compressed gas cylinders, and junk boats are not accepted at the Ypao Point disaster debris disposal site. Residents are advised to presort and secure their waste loads before traveling to the disposal site.

D-SNAP Updates

Individuals who had no discrepancies on their Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) application and applied from the period between June 22nd to June 25th may see their benefits uploaded later tonight after 7 p.m. DPHSS would like to remind D-SNAP participants that their benefits will be valid for 274 days. DPHSS will be contacting individuals who have discrepancies on their applications. During the call, applicants may be asked for information to ensure the completeness of their D-SNAP application. Such information may include items like their date of birth. Rest assured, these calls are legitimate and are intended to ensure benefits are issued. Please be aware that DPHSS will be calling using the numbers 671-300-8880 or 671-300-8882 during the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; these numbers will only be active during this time period.

Visit the following links for the latest information:

Governor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govlouguam
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

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. 76 - Americorps Chainsaw Debris Program Launches; Ypao Point Disaster Debris Disposal Site Update; D-SNAP Updates