JIC Release No. 2 - Guam in COR 2; Emergency Shelters to Open - GHS OCD

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has placed Guam in Condition of Readiness 2 as of 6:30 p.m. At this time, Joint Region Marianas and all Department of Defense (DOD) installations will remain in TCCOR 3 as a result of a different threshold for the onset of destructive winds.

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is preparing to open three emergency shelters at 7 p.m. today.

Residents who need emergency shelter are urged to arrive at the shelter closest to their home as early as 7 p.m., before the onset of damaging winds, which is expected around midnight Monday and expected to last until sunrise Tuesday morning. The worst conditions for Guam will be after midnight to 6 a.m.

Emergency shelters will NOT be opened until 7 p.m. Do not attempt to go to any emergency shelter until then.

The following emergency shelters will be open to the public at 7 p.m.:

Machananao Elementary School (Northern)
B.P. Carbullido Elementary School (Central)
Inarajan Middle School (Southern)

At this time, GDOE schools will remain closed tomorrow, October 8, 2019. The Archdiocese of Agana has confirmed Catholic schools will remain closed tomorrow, October 8, 2019. The Joint Information Center will continue to update information received from any other schools.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE TO THE SHELTER?

7-day supply of food and water for all members of your family
Bedding
Personal hygiene products
Medication
7-day of supply for infants and toddlers, including diapers and formula
Valid Photo ID
Important documents including birth certificates, passports and medical immunization cards

SHELTER RULES

Be respectful to fellow residents and staff. No foul language, abusive behavior, stealing or destruction of property will be accepted or tolerated
Busing to/from shelters is available at the Mayors’ Office
Bring a 7-day supply of food, water & prescriptions; infants & toddlers should have a 7- day supply of disposable diapers, baby formula & baby food
Bring bedding, toiletries, toilet tissue, and personal hygiene products
Must complete registration. Bring a form of valid I.D.
Must report Tuberculosis or flu-like symptoms
Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and weapons are not allowed in the shelter or on the shelter grounds. Persons caught in possession will be asked to leave the shelter and in some cases turned over to law enforcement personnel. Persons determined to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will not be admitted, or readmitted to the shelter.
Public Law 21-139 dictates that there is no smoking on school premises. Smoking is not allowed in the shelter. Smoking is permitted outside the campus in designated smoking areas only. Please dispose of cigarette butts properly.
Quiet hours will be announced and enforced in the sleeping areas. However, sleeping areas should be kept quiet at all times.
If you bring vital documents (i.e. Birth records, passports, etc.), secure them or keep them on you at all times. The shelter is not responsible for these items if stolen.
Parents must maintain responsibility and supervision for their children. Children must never be left unattended.
No cooking or gas stoves
For your safety DO NOT LEAVE THE SHELTER before COR 4 has been declared
Only service animals are allowed at this time.
Pets cannot be sheltered at this time. For those seeking shelter for their pets, make plans for them now to stay with a loved one, friend or family member as pets will not be allowed in the emergency shelters.

TRANSPORTATION
Those seeking shelter who do not have reliable transportation, or have a disability and need a ride to a designated storm shelter, are advised to contact their village Mayor’s Office for information on transportation. Residents will need to go to their respective Mayor’s Office for bus transportation to the shelters.

Hagibis Update
The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office continues to monitor what is now Super Typhoon Hagibis. As of 4 p.m., Hagibis was located 15.5 degrees north latitude and 148.2 degrees east longitude, about 165 miles east of Saipan and 270 miles east-northeast of Guam. Super Typhoon Hagibis is moving west-northwest at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.

Guam can expect damaging winds of 39 mph or more by early Tuesday morning. The maximum wind expected for northern Guam is between 40-50 mph winds. The maximum winds for southern Guam are 30-40 mph. At this time, destructive winds of 58 mph or more and typhoon force winds of 75 mph or more are not expected for Guam.

Strong thunderstorms are now affecting western Guam coastal waters. Strong thunderstorms capable of producing wind gusts up to 45 knots, torrential downpours, and frequent lightning are expected. Mariners can expect gusty winds up to 45 knots, locally higher waves, frequent lightning strikes, and visibility than a half mile due to torrential rains. Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Guam, Rota, and Agrihan islands, meaning tropical storm conditions, including damaging winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected tonight.

A flash flood watch is in effect for Guam through Tuesday afternoon, meaning conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Frequent locally heavy downpours can cause streams to overflow their banks and low-lying areas to flood quickly. There is potential for 3 to 5 inches of rain across Guam with locally heavier amounts.

The community is reminded to practice extreme caution if traveling in rainy conditions:

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. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
Visit https://www.ready.gov/floods to learn more.

Stay up to date with the latest advisory information:

NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/
JRM 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 Release No. 2 - Guam in COR 2; Emergency Shelters to Open