MRFC Hosts Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) and the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the recent completion of the MRFC facility on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the GHS/OCD in Agana Heights.

The purpose of the ribbon cutting ceremony was to commemorate the recent completion of the expanded MRFC facility. The MRFC was first recognized as the nation’s 78th Fusion Center in April 2013. Since then, the MRFC has expanded to 12 full time intelligence analysts, with the inclusion of the Fusion Liaison Officers (FLO) Program with partnerships from local, private, and federal partner agencies. The MRFC also partner with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Fusion Center node out of Saipan.

The new facility provides more space for the expanding MRFC team and allows for greater connectivity and continuity of operations within the MRFC, providing more communication tools needed to work with stakeholders and partners in homeland security and emergency management. The facility provides the capability to enhance information sharing system to prevent crime and terrorism in the Asia-Pacific region.

The community is always reminded of the resource to report any suspicious activity to the MRFC online at https://mlrin.org/ or email mrfc@ghs.guam.gov, following the Department of Homeland Security’s campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something.”

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer Jenna Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov.

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.