Preliminary Damage Assessments Underway After Tropical Storm Maria

For Immediate Release
July 9, 2018

Preliminary Damage Assessments Underway After Tropical Storm Maria

Pursuant to the Guam Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, the Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) and other Government of Guam (GovGuam) support agencies have begun conducting an island-wide Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) following the passage of Tropical Storm Maria (10W), that affected Guam between July 4 – July 5, 2018.

Assisting GHS/OCD in this effort include: the Mayor’s Council of Guam, Agency for Human Resources and Development, Bureau of Statistics and Plans (BSP), Department of Agriculture (DoAg), Department of Chamorro Affairs, Department of Labor, Department of Land Management, Guam Economic Development Authority, Guam International Airport Authority, Guam Visitors Bureau, and Port Authority of Guam.

Businesses and farms that suffered or incurred costs relative to emergency protective services or debris clean-up as a result of Tropical Storm Maria, are requested to submit respective PDAs. Teams from eight GovGuam agencies, led by BSP and teams from DoAg will be conducting damage assessments by interviewing business owners/managers and farm owners, respectively through Wednesday, July 11, 2018. The results of the PDAs will equip GHS/OCD with information needed to make determinations on what assistance programs, if any, can be brought in to support farms and businesses. Business owners are requested to submit PDAs to BSP, by contacting (671) 472-4201/2/3 and farms that suffered crop loss are requested to contact DoAg at (671) 734-3949.

GHS/OCD have also requested all GovGuam Departments/Agencies and concerned Private Non-Profit Organizations to submit respective Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) in reference to Tropical Storm Maria (10W). Government of Guam organizations and PNP agencies that suffered any damages or incurred costs relative to emergency protective services or debris clean-up as a result of the tropical storm are requested to submit respective PDAs to GHS/OCD no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, with Jackie Taitingfong-Guzman at jacke.taitingfong@ghs.guam.gov and Jaimie Cruz at jaimie.cruz@ghs.guam.gov.
For individuals and households who suffered damages and were not assessed by the American Red Cross, please report damages to your respective Mayor’s office.

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 478-0208 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.