Village by village: Assessments for recovery flowing in
Governor, mayors work with agencies to respond to residents’ needs
JIC Release No. 8a
Storm update, July 30, 2014
Guam remains in Condition of Readiness 1. Governor Calvo implores residents to remain indoors. The storm’s closest point of approach may have passed, but it is leaving behind the worst of the winds and rains. It is now more dangerous to be outside than it was during the closest point of approach.
Our mayors and vice mayors spent the past two days working around the clock helping residents and leading their villages. Governor Calvo is preparing to shift the attention and resources of the government from storm preparation to storm recovery.
These are the Governor’s goals:
1. Make sure families have homes to go back to.
2. Restore utilities and resume government operations.
3. Lead Guam’s quick bounce from the storm and get the message out that Guam is open for business.
Problems reported by village:
In order to reach these goals, there are fundamental recovery efforts that must happen. These include debris removal to open roads, relieving any sewage backup, repairing any streetlights and signs, and restoring power. The mayors of each village were asked to report damage in their villages following closest point of approach so that we all know where the problems are and how we can fix them. Here’s the reports so far:
HAGATNA (Mayor John Cruz): There are reports of flooding by the river and a transformer sparking near Casa Ladera Apts.
AGAT (Mayor Carol Tayama): There are manholes overflowing at Bruce and Follard Streets; downed line from vegetation that fell on power lines.
ASAN (Mayor Margaret Blas): There were flooding on roads and barrels from nearby construction site were all scattered by the wind, blocking roads. The barrels were reported to the contractor to remove.
DEDEDO (Mayor Melissa Savares): There were several downed lines, including a power line that was taken down in Chalan Fanha. Another resident in GHURA 501 had a live wire that fell on their fence, creating a dangerous situation. The Dededo mayor’s office worked with GPA to address the problem.
PITI (Mayor Ben Gumataotao): There was a tree that fell on a power line along Marian Pilling Street.
NOTE: We are compiling further updates from the other villages. We will provide these updates as they become available.
Most villages are reporting: Power outages, impassable roads, flooding
Mayors’ office staff are cleaning secondary roads but are relying on Guam Power Authority and Department of Public Works to clear debris that is blocking primary roads and remove vegetation leaning on power lines and causing outages.
Downed lines
Here are some tips if you see a downed line:
– DO NOT GO NEAR THE LINES.
– Call GPA at 475-1472/3/4 to report or comment on our Facebook posts and we at the #JIC will report it to GPA. Please include specific information including village, location and time.
– Even if the line isn’t sparking it can still be “live” with a deadly amount of electricity. Keep people and pets at least 25 feet away from the line. Be very careful not to come in contact with anything the line may be touching. Especially avoid water, metal objects or even trees that are possibly touching the line.
– DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE WIRE. Wait for Guam Power crews to deal with the situation.