The governors of the CNMI and Guam are preparing the territories for the possible arrival of a typhoon to any of the main islands of the Marianas early this week.
[NOTE: At 12:30 p.m, Sunday, October 8, 2023, Kandit will be providing a live update from our studios via livestream on Facebook and YouTube from Governor Arnold Palacios by phone and from Landon Aydlett of the National Weather Service and Krystal Paco-San Agustin, who will join us in studio]
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman placed Guam and Joint Region Marianas, respectively, in Condition of Readiness 3 at 10 a.m. today, Sunday, October 8, 2023. At COR 3, damaging winds of 39-57 mph are expected within 48 hours.
“It’s important to stress that the storm’s movement, strength, and projected path are evolving,” a news release from CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios’s office states.
Last night the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded Tropical Depression 15W to Tropical Storm Bolaven.
As of 7 a.m., Tropical Storm Bolaven was located near 10.0 degrees north latitude and 153.0 degrees east longitude, about 605 miles east-southeast of Guam, moving west at 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It is expected to maintain this general course with an increase in forward speed through late Monday. Bolaven is forecast to intensify through tonight, possibly becoming a typhoon by late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
A typhoon watch is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. A typhoon watch means that there is a high possibility for damaging (39 mph) and/or destructive (58 mph) winds and heavy rains. This is expected as early as Tuesday morning.
Preparations in the CNMI (as of 9:42 a.m., October 8, 2023):
Governor Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Governor David M. Apatang yesterday met with the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) office as preparations are being made to anticipate tropical storm or typhoon condition winds and rain early next week.
Today, Oct. 8, the Governor, Lt. Governor, and HSEM will also be meeting with the CNMI Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Team, composed of government agencies that include the Commonwealth Health Center Corporation (CHCC), the CNMI Public School System (which operates emergency shelters), Commonwealth Ports Authority, Department of Public Safety, and other agencies. The MAC Team also includes nonprofit organizations like the American Red Cross.
Details regarding shelter availability, availability of public transportation, and other emergency services information will be provided after the MAC Team meeting.
In preparation for possible severe weather, Governor Palacios, Lt. Governor Apatang, and HSEM advise CNMI residents to take the following preparatory measures:
- Gas vehicles and obtain fuel for your generators.
- Secure loose debris and belongings around your household or yard.
- Those living in flood-prone areas should take action; clear drainage areas and unblock storm drains to minimize flooding.
- Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents, and keep copies in a weather-proof bag.
- Prepare to board up windows or close shutters.
- Have a prepared emergency preparedness kit with first-aid kits, batteries, flashlights, toiletries, and a portable stove in your household.
- Stock up on food and water, as appropriate, for your household.
Stay up to date with the latest information from the National Weather Service and the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and other official sources.
—–
Preparations in Guam (as of 9:50 a.m., October 8, 2023):
In preparation of the storm’s approach, response efforts are underway. The Guam Department of Public Works (DPW) has pre-staged heavy equipment in flood-prone areas islandwide and has begun clearing poor drainage areas, in partnership with village Mayors’ offices. The Guam Power Authority has begun tree-trimming on Friday and continuing, especially around water well areas. The Guam Waterworks Authority continues to top off all reservoirs. The Port Authority of Guam continues to prepare the Port yard and have already begun working with gas companies.
FEMA continues to monitor and prepare for impacts from Tropical Depression Bolaven, on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In addition to federal teams and specialists continuing to help with recovery from Typhoon Mawar, FEMA is deploying an additional 175 federal staff to respond to Tropical Depression Bolaven, if federal help is needed. These additional personnel, includes two
Incident Management Assistance Teams that will embed with Guam and CNMI officials prior to the storm’s landfall to enhance preparedness efforts.
FEMA is coordinating other federal partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the American Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Health and Human Services. These agencies and organizations stand ready to lend their support to the response efforts in Guam and CNMI. FEMA’s distribution center in Guam is a permanent federal storage facility that receives, stores, and ships critical disaster resources when needed.
Prepare Now
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautionary actions:
- Those living in flood-prone areas should take action now; clear drainage areas and unblock storm drains to minimize flooding;
- Stay up to date with the latest information;
- Clear loose debris around your yard and store any items that may become airborne with heavy winds, such as canopies, tarps, and trampolines, before inclement weather arrives;
- Have an emergency kit prepared: Store enough food and water for your household for 7-10 days. Include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies;
- Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag;
- Review your emergency plan: If you do not have a plan, learn how to create an emergency plan; Have plans for your family members and pets. If you are a person with disabilities or a caregiver for elderly, you may need to take extra steps to plan for those additional needs.
- Get emergency alerts: Stay informed by having a weather alert radio, battery-operated, or hand-crank radio, where you can listen to emergency news;
- Gas your vehicles and get fuel for your generators;
- Pull cash from the ATM in case of power outages;
- Don’t drive through flood waters: Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low-lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
Radio networks and communications
Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense public affairs officer Jenna Blas said the government of Guam already is networking with the various radio stations to prevent what happened as Typhoon Mawar devastated Guam in late May, when all but one radio station went down and thousands of mobile subscribers had no phone or internet services. The public affairs catastrophe left the majority of the island without a way of accessing critical recovery information.
“We’re definitely preparing for the worst,” Ms. Blas said about the possibility radio stations and other means of the impending Joint Information Center being able to communicate with the public goes down.
“Right after Typhoon Mawar there were already meeting taking place with our telecommunications partners as well as our media broadcasters, so we’ve been forging those partnerships and making sure to see and check in with them what their capabilities are, making sure we know what they’re lacking, if there’s anything we can do to assist. But we’re making sure that our communication lines are open so that we know right away if there are any issues.”
Both DOCOMO PACIFIC and IT&E issued statements confirming their preparation efforts.
“Starting yesterday, our dedicated technology and facility teams have initiated comprehensive storm preparations to ensure the safety and security of our mobile and fixed network, as well as all critical facilities in Guam and CNMI,” Docomo communications manager Jared Roberto said. “These storm preparations will persist over the next few days as we remain committed to safeguarding our operations, assets, and employees. We encourage all our friends, families, and residents of Guam and the CNMI to stay safe.”
“We are ensuring our generators are fueled, recovery team identified, and preparing as we monitor the storm,” IT&E CEO Jim Oehlerking said.
Guam AG issues price gouging warning
With the Guam declaration of COR 3, and the approach and uncertainties of now a Typhoon Watch, the Attorney General reminds the public that during times of emergency Guam law requires the following from merchants and landlords:
- Price Gouging Prohibited COR 2: merchants & landlords cannot increase the price of goods in advance of a possible disaster (i.e. tropical storm / typhoon)
- Upon Declaration of COR 2, all prices of wholesale and retail goods shall be frozen, and shall be frozen until 72 hours after declaration of COR 4 (5 GCA § 32201(c)(21)(E) – see attachment)
- Rent can be frozen up to 120 days after a disaster upon executive order of the Gov. Penalties to violators shall include: 3 times the gross profits or 5 times amount of overcharges, whichever is greater.
“As this Community prepares, we trust that our business community and all merchants will not take advantage of people in our time of need,” Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan said. “The AG’s Office is prepared to receive complaints.”
