JIC RELEASE NO. 35 - Governor Leon Guerrero Signs Executive Order No. 2023-05; Guam EPA Investigating Unapproved Water Delivery Services; Salvation Army Update; GPA, DPW, GPD Updates - GHS OCD

Governor Leon Guerrero Signs Executive Order No. 2023-05:

Today, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero issued Executive Order No. 2023-05, relative to emergency procurement authorization during the state of emergency, and orders such that:

Emergency Procurement and Emergency Expenses. Authorizes emergency procurement for emergency response expenses in response to Typhoon Mawar, including but not limited to procurements related to safety and security: food, water, and sheltering; health and medical; energy; communications; transportation; and hazardous materials, in excess of initial expenditure amounts identified in E.O. No. 2023-02. Procurements in furtherance of emergency efforts of the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority to restore utilities to our community, and procurements in furtherance of typhoon debris removal, are expressly authorized herein.
As provided in Section 5215. The effective period for emergency procurements made pursuant to this order shall be for a ninety (90) day period immediately following the date of the Determination of Need for Emergency Procurement. Procurements made under the prior authorization provided in EQ. No. 2023-02, authorized therein for an effective period of thirty (30) days may be extended for an additional period of sixty (60) days following the date of the Determination of Need for Emergency Procurement.
Authorization for Overtime. The authorization in EQ. No. 2023-02 for payment of overtime, for exempt and non-exempt Government of Guam employees, to work in excess of forty (40) hours a week in order to mitigate and respond to the effects of Typhoon Mawar throughout Guam remains in effect, for amounts in excess of initial expenditure amounts identified in E.O. No. 2023-02.

Guam EPA Investigating Unapproved Water Delivery Services:

The Guam Environmental Protection Agency (Guam EPA) has been made aware of facilities around the island who have taken delivery of water from companies who were using tanker trucks that are not rated or approved for potable water.

Non-potable tanker trucks are not approved for delivery of water for human consumption. Boiling water which is handled in this manner will not make it safe for human consumption. Non-potable tanker trucks are used to carry water which is not tested and may contain bacteria or chemical contaminants at levels which are unsafe for human consumption. Traces of these contaminants will remain in the tank after non-potable use, and will remain present in the water that consumers receive from the building plumbing system.

Guam EPA urges that if your facility has received water in this manner, CEASE CONSUMPTION IMMEDIATELY and DO NOT DRINK IT. Anyone who may come into contact with this water is hereby notified to cease:

drinking this water
using it for cooking
brushing teeth
using it in any way that may risk ingestion.

Guam EPA advises individuals or patrons of facilities who may have received water from an unapproved method of the following:

Use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice
The water delivered by truck may be used for non-potable purposes such as flushing toilets, laundry, and other household cleaning

Guam EPA is requiring owners of affected facilities have taken delivery of water from companies through unapproved methods to:

self identify
provide notification to all residents and patrons, using the required notification form, that Water at their facilities was derived from an unapproved source and should not be consumed
contact Guam EPA for the required notification form, or download one by CLICKING HERE.
notify Guam EPA of the dates of each water delivery, the company who delivered the water, and the amount of water delivered for each date via email to: brian.bearden@epa.guam.gov or nic.rupley@epa.guam.gov

An investigation is currently underway, and Guam EPA continues to contact owners of all non-potable water delivery trucks who may have delivered water through unapproved methods. Supplying water intended for consumption through unapproved methods shall be considered to be in violation of the Guam Safe Drinking Water Act and may be subject to administrative penalty orders of up to $32,500 per violation, per day.

Walk-Up Service Not Provided at Salvation Army Headquarters:

The Salvation Army Headquarters in Tiyan Guam is not providing walk-up services on site. Instead, the Salvation Army is providing services door-to-door. The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Tamuning remains open to the community daily from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Salvation Army will never go door-to-door to ask for donations. The community is advised to report any suspicious or fraudulent activity to local authorities.

GPA Update:

The Guam Power Authority (GPA) continues its restoration and post-typhoon recovery efforts. GPA reports that as of 1:00 p.m.:

56% of the System Load (Customer Demand) has been restored.
40.9% customers restored

POST-TYPHOON RECOVERY PHASE II

In the second phase of the post-typhoon recovery, GPA crews are addressing three or more sectors (north, central, and south) to restore as many customers (with minimal storm damage) as possible per feeder. Those with significant damages will be addressed in Phase III recovery efforts.

Some areas of GPA’s focus over the next one to three days include:

P-270: Route 16 from McDonald’s to Route 1 (left side of Route 16 northbound).
P-310: Harmon McDonald’s on to Route 1, including Taitano Road.
P-250: Ordot-Chalan Pago area including Maimai Road.
P-204: Chalan San Antonio from Mayor’s office toward Farenholt, and areas behind GPO.
P-280: Anigua substation towards Maina, and through to Asan valley.
P-262: Talofofo village to Windward Hills Road, and on towards Route 4 including Baza Gardens vicinity and down to Ipan area.
P-206: Route 1 northbound from Tamuning substation (behind FHB) to Airport Road.
P-202: Route 1 from Tamuning substation to East Agana (old Nissan Motors).

GPA reminds the community that the island-wide power system may be unstable, with fluctuating voltages, power interruptions and intermittencies occurring during restoration and recovery especially after a strong typhoon. Outages or interruptions may occur after power has been restored. This is not unusual as the grid is fragile and period of system instability will occur until full restoration is completed. GPA will make every effort to have power restored as quickly as possible to its customers. Once full restoration is completed around the island, the system will stabilize and less power interruptions will occur.

Customers can contact GPA’s 24-Hour Trouble Dispatch at 475-1472/3/4 or via direct message on GPA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GuamPowerAuthority.

DPW Update:

The Department of Public Works (DPW), Business License & Permit Center is now operational. The permit center is open from Monday through Friday, with the exception of Government of Guam observed Holidays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are some agencies that will not have a representative at the permit center. However, you can proceed to their main office locations. The following agencies are operational at the permit center:

Department of Public Works

Guam Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau: Closed from 12pm-1pm

Department of Public Health, Environmental Health: only Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Treasurer of Guam: Closed from 12pm-1pm

For more information, contact the permit center at (671) 646-3104/9887.

GPD Update:

The following Guam Police Department (GPD) Service Counters are now open with modified hours and locations:

Hakubotan (Army and Boating): 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday

For Police Clearances - Central Precinct, Sinajana 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

GPD is currently experiencing intermittent Internet services. Cash is only being accepted at this time.

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.

> View Notice - Do Not Drink FINAL

> View EO 2023-05 Relative to Emergency Procurement Authorization During the State of Emergency in Response to Typhoon Mawar

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. 35 - Governor Leon Guerrero Signs Executive Order No. 2023-05; Guam EPA Investigating Unapproved Water Delivery Services; Salvation Army Update; GPA, DPW, GPD Updates