by Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM News Monday, October 18, 2004 Subscribe to Sabrina's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

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Typhoon Nock-Ten is nearing the Mariana Islands. As of 10am Monday the island was declared in Condition of Readiness "3". According to the latest bulletin from the National Weather Service, the center of Typhoon Nock-Ten was located at 10.2 degrees north latitude and 151.8 degrees east longitude.

Classes have been cancelled for Tuesday at all Department of Education schools, at the Guam Adventist Academy and at Harvest Christian Academy.

Nock-Ten is 525 miles to the east-southeast of Guam and is moving in a west-southwest path at 6 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are 85 MPH with higher gusts. This general motion is expected to continue over the next several hours with a subsequent turn to the west and a slight increase in forward speed. Should the storm maintain its current track the National Weather Service expects Nock-Ten to make its closest point of approach Wednesday afternoon.

Residents should once again be prepared and make sure the essential supplies are on hand and put together a storm emergency kit. Items for any disaster preparedness kit include bottled water and nonperishable food items, and you would be wise to include any medications you need to take regularly. A first-aid kit is important in case of injury and don't forget extra clothes, blankets, a battery-operated radio, flashlights and batteries. Also, be sure to have cash and credit cards on hand. And if you have any special needs, be sure to pack those items that you must have like oxygen tanks or wheelchair batteries.

With any big storm there is a possibility of flooding. In the event that an area does flood it is very important to keep safety in mind. Never swim or play in flood water as doing so could hide dangers such as holes or submerged debris. Evacuate your home immediately if advised to do so and families should use one vehicle. You really shouldn't drive, but if you must don't park or camp along streams and don't drive around a barricade - they are there for your protection. And be especially cautious at night when flood dangers will be harder to see.

The American Red Cross advises that you really should avoid floodwaters altogether. A Flood Warning means flooding is already being reported in your area and you need to act at once, while a Flood Watch means flooding is possible and you should stay alert.

The Department of Public Works is urging all candidates running for office with signs up to begin removing and securing their signs. The hundreds of signs which dot Guam's roadways are a potential safety hazard and winds from the typhoon blow them into buildings and rescue personnel, the latter of which must be out on the Guam's roadways during the storm. DPW is also asking all of its contractors to begin securing their job sites.

In the meantime, called to the Office of Civil Defense's heavy weather briefing held this afternoon were the island's village mayors. While the mayors didn't receive any new information regarding the storm, the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the information being disseminated among the villages is consistent.