NEWS: President Trump Approves Disaster Declaration for Guam for Typhoon Wutip

Hagåtña – A Major Disaster Declaration was approved for Guam.

Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero submitted a request for federal assistance after Typhoon Wutip struck the Marianas on February 23, 2019.

The request for Public Assistance and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program were awarded:
1. Public Assistance provides grants to state and local governments and certain nonprofit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters.
a. Public Assistance projects may fall into the following categories:
i. Category A: Debris removal
ii. Category B: Emergency protective measures
iii. Category C: Road systems and bridges
iv. Category D: Water control facilities
v. Category E: Public buildings and contents
vi. Category F: Public utilities
vii. Category G: Parks and other recreational facilities

2. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which will assist Guam in building back stronger, reducing long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

“Our critical infrastructure on island received extensive damage from Typhoon Wutip,” stated Governor Leon Guerrero. “The Presidential Declaration will provide federal aid to supplement local recovery efforts that began immediately after the typhoon’s passing.”

Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio added: “While our Government agencies and Mayors did our best and joined forces to minimize the damage, and while we are grateful that it was not a direct hit, our island was still significantly impacted. We appreciate this favorable decision from President Trump and look forward to working with our federal counterparts from FEMA to move forward with the recovery process.”

President Trump has appointed Tracy A. Haynes as the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) for recovery operations on Guam.

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.