https://www.postguam.com/news/local...cle_c068b0e2-b40e-11e8-88d8-5392b6895006.html
Guam went under Condition of Readiness 2 as of 7 p.m. Sunday, which means typhoon-force winds from Mangkhut were expected as soon as this afternoon.
Island residents should expect the onset of damaging winds beginning around 3 p.m. today. Destructive winds are expected to begin after sunset and typhoon-force winds could start around 9 p.m.
Based on the latest tracking, the typhoon has veered more toward the north, so if the current northward deviation continues, Mangkhut could pass through the Marianas closer to Tinian and Saipan, according to the Joint Information Center.
Sunday night's forecast states the typhoon could range from a Category 2, which is referred to as a “moderate typhoon,” with maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph, to a Category 4 typhoon, which is referred to as a “very strong typhoon” with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 mph and peak gusts of 165-198 mph.
However, National Weather Service meteorologist Chip Guard cautioned Guam still should prepare for a damaging typhoon.
“Now if this thing wobbles, it could bring it a lot closer to us,” Guard warned.
“Northern Guam and Rota have to kind of prepare for a direct hit,” Guard said.
As of Sunday afternoon, Mangkhut was 550 miles east-northeast of Guam, packing 75 mph winds and moving at 23 mph. Gusts were at 90 mph.
While the typhoon's projected closest point of approach to Guam is late Monday night, Guard said, “The closest point of approach doesn’t mean that’s when the worst conditions are going to occur.”
“Frequently, when the storm passes, we see the worst conditions,” Guard said.
He said destructive winds could continue into early Tuesday morning.
NWS is forecasting 96 mph to 100 mph winds, with gusts up to 121-139 mph Monday night through Tuesday. These conditions could cause heavy damage to wooden structures, damage to vegetation, strong rip currents and some coastal flooding.
“Get into a concrete structure if possible – especially if they’re in substandard structures or old houses with wooden roofs,” Guard said.
Earlier Sunday, meteorologist Mike Ziobro said residents should not just focus on the center of the typhoon. “They forget there’s a big wind radius around it. ... And things can change. It can wobble up or down. It’s too early to say.”
Residents are urged to continue to take necessary precautions.
Guam Department of Education public schools, Guam’s Catholic schools, the University of Guam and Guam Community College have announced they will be closed today.
At Two Lovers' Point, crews from Island Certs spent Sunday morning securing the 24-foot-tall, 6,000-pound statue. Nancy and David Barnhouse own the statue and were concerned when forecasters mentioned a possible direct hit. “We didn’t want to take any chances,” David Barnhouse said.
He and seven of his workers spent four hours securing the statue in hopes it will weather the typhoon.
The statue was twisted and knocked to the ground when 175 mph winds hit Guam during Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. The couple installed the statue on Oct. 19, 2015, during their second wedding anniversary.
District Court closed
The District Court of Guam will be closed for business until further notice in preparation for the typhoon. All hearings, jury trials, and jury selection proceedings are postponed until further notice. Jurors are advised not to appear at the courthouse. Any filings due will be considered timely filed if they are faxed to the Office of the Clerk at 969-4488, and the original filed with the court the next regular business day, according to a press release from the court.
united.com.
Pregnant mothers
Guam Memorial Hospital will provide storm shelter for women who are at least 38 weeks pregnant and all high-risk pregnant mothers who are six months or more in their pregnancy.
People who need power for oxygen
The Southern Regional Community Health Center will open for patients who need power for their oxygen machines. They will need to bring their oxygen machines to the center. They also should bring necessities such as food, drinks, and any required medication. Please bring only one individual to accompany you to the center. Call Cid Mostales at 828-7516/7517 before coming to the center.
GRMC
Guam Regional Medical City will suspend all visiting hours. All patient appointments made with GRMC’s Specialty Clinics and Radiology Department for Monday and Tuesday have been canceled. All non-emergency and elective surgeries scheduled for Monday and Tuesday also have been canceled.
Tips
Opt for flame-free emergency lighting
If you experience a power outage, when possible, opt for flame-free alternatives to candles: flashlights, battery-powered tea lights, etc. If you do need to use candles, keep candles at least 1 foot away from things that can catch fire, like clothing, books and curtains. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax. Keep candles and open flames from flammable liquids. Never leave candles or kerosene lamps burning unattended or within the reach of small children or pets. Extinguish all candles when leaving home or going to bed.
Operate generators safely
In addition to following the safety manual for your specific generator, operate generators in well-ventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings.
This will prevent the danger of carbon monoxide entering your home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, invisible, poison gas. Every year, 1,500 people die of CO poisoning and 10,000 others need medical attention because of it. CO poisoning is a real threat, one that you cannot see, smell, or taste, but that you can prevent.
Do not refuel generators while they are running and let your generator cool down before refueling it since gasoline can ignite on hot surfaces. Do not store gas or flammable liquids in your home.
Grill smart
Following a storm, you may be cooking outdoors over an open flame. Follow basic safety guidelines of using a grill, like keeping hair and loose clothing away from the open flame and exercise caution when using lighter fluids.
Immediately after a storm
Use extreme caution going out of doors. Be ready for broken glass, and damage to building foundations, streets and bridges, and coastal or hillside erosion. Stay away from downed power lines. Keep listening to radio or TV. If you come upon a barricade or a flooded road, turn around. If you evacuated, do not return to your home until local authorities say it is safe.
Guam went under Condition of Readiness 2 as of 7 p.m. Sunday, which means typhoon-force winds from Mangkhut were expected as soon as this afternoon.
Island residents should expect the onset of damaging winds beginning around 3 p.m. today. Destructive winds are expected to begin after sunset and typhoon-force winds could start around 9 p.m.
Based on the latest tracking, the typhoon has veered more toward the north, so if the current northward deviation continues, Mangkhut could pass through the Marianas closer to Tinian and Saipan, according to the Joint Information Center.
Sunday night's forecast states the typhoon could range from a Category 2, which is referred to as a “moderate typhoon,” with maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph, to a Category 4 typhoon, which is referred to as a “very strong typhoon” with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 mph and peak gusts of 165-198 mph.
However, National Weather Service meteorologist Chip Guard cautioned Guam still should prepare for a damaging typhoon.
“Now if this thing wobbles, it could bring it a lot closer to us,” Guard warned.
“Northern Guam and Rota have to kind of prepare for a direct hit,” Guard said.
As of Sunday afternoon, Mangkhut was 550 miles east-northeast of Guam, packing 75 mph winds and moving at 23 mph. Gusts were at 90 mph.
While the typhoon's projected closest point of approach to Guam is late Monday night, Guard said, “The closest point of approach doesn’t mean that’s when the worst conditions are going to occur.”
“Frequently, when the storm passes, we see the worst conditions,” Guard said.
He said destructive winds could continue into early Tuesday morning.
NWS is forecasting 96 mph to 100 mph winds, with gusts up to 121-139 mph Monday night through Tuesday. These conditions could cause heavy damage to wooden structures, damage to vegetation, strong rip currents and some coastal flooding.
“Get into a concrete structure if possible – especially if they’re in substandard structures or old houses with wooden roofs,” Guard said.
Earlier Sunday, meteorologist Mike Ziobro said residents should not just focus on the center of the typhoon. “They forget there’s a big wind radius around it. ... And things can change. It can wobble up or down. It’s too early to say.”
Residents are urged to continue to take necessary precautions.
Guam Department of Education public schools, Guam’s Catholic schools, the University of Guam and Guam Community College have announced they will be closed today.
At Two Lovers' Point, crews from Island Certs spent Sunday morning securing the 24-foot-tall, 6,000-pound statue. Nancy and David Barnhouse own the statue and were concerned when forecasters mentioned a possible direct hit. “We didn’t want to take any chances,” David Barnhouse said.
He and seven of his workers spent four hours securing the statue in hopes it will weather the typhoon.
The statue was twisted and knocked to the ground when 175 mph winds hit Guam during Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. The couple installed the statue on Oct. 19, 2015, during their second wedding anniversary.
District Court closed
The District Court of Guam will be closed for business until further notice in preparation for the typhoon. All hearings, jury trials, and jury selection proceedings are postponed until further notice. Jurors are advised not to appear at the courthouse. Any filings due will be considered timely filed if they are faxed to the Office of the Clerk at 969-4488, and the original filed with the court the next regular business day, according to a press release from the court.
united.com.
Pregnant mothers
Guam Memorial Hospital will provide storm shelter for women who are at least 38 weeks pregnant and all high-risk pregnant mothers who are six months or more in their pregnancy.
People who need power for oxygen
The Southern Regional Community Health Center will open for patients who need power for their oxygen machines. They will need to bring their oxygen machines to the center. They also should bring necessities such as food, drinks, and any required medication. Please bring only one individual to accompany you to the center. Call Cid Mostales at 828-7516/7517 before coming to the center.
GRMC
Guam Regional Medical City will suspend all visiting hours. All patient appointments made with GRMC’s Specialty Clinics and Radiology Department for Monday and Tuesday have been canceled. All non-emergency and elective surgeries scheduled for Monday and Tuesday also have been canceled.
Tips
Opt for flame-free emergency lighting
If you experience a power outage, when possible, opt for flame-free alternatives to candles: flashlights, battery-powered tea lights, etc. If you do need to use candles, keep candles at least 1 foot away from things that can catch fire, like clothing, books and curtains. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax. Keep candles and open flames from flammable liquids. Never leave candles or kerosene lamps burning unattended or within the reach of small children or pets. Extinguish all candles when leaving home or going to bed.
Operate generators safely
In addition to following the safety manual for your specific generator, operate generators in well-ventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings.
This will prevent the danger of carbon monoxide entering your home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, invisible, poison gas. Every year, 1,500 people die of CO poisoning and 10,000 others need medical attention because of it. CO poisoning is a real threat, one that you cannot see, smell, or taste, but that you can prevent.
Do not refuel generators while they are running and let your generator cool down before refueling it since gasoline can ignite on hot surfaces. Do not store gas or flammable liquids in your home.
Grill smart
Following a storm, you may be cooking outdoors over an open flame. Follow basic safety guidelines of using a grill, like keeping hair and loose clothing away from the open flame and exercise caution when using lighter fluids.
Immediately after a storm
Use extreme caution going out of doors. Be ready for broken glass, and damage to building foundations, streets and bridges, and coastal or hillside erosion. Stay away from downed power lines. Keep listening to radio or TV. If you come upon a barricade or a flooded road, turn around. If you evacuated, do not return to your home until local authorities say it is safe.
