Just days after the Yigo Gym opened for residents seeking refuge after their homes were damaged or destroyed from Typhoon Sinlaku, the Government of Guam is considering opening up another Tier II shelter.

There may be a need for another Tier II shelter after the Yigo Gym nearly reached maximum capacity of 300 residents over the weekend, though it was unclear where or when on Monday. The number of residents unable to return to a safe home after Sinlaku has been fluctuating, according to American Red Cross Guam Chapter executive director Ken Quintanilla.

"The number is gradually changing as people are going back to their homes, requesting to leave, maybe finding family members they are able to stay with," he explained. "The numbers have just been changing."

KUAM News was not allowed to film inside out of respect to residents, but we saw the gym was filled with families and many children. There were 260 residents at the Tier II shelter as of midday-Monday, according to Yigo mayor Frances Lizama.

Tumon resident Joseph Camacho is one of them, and he said, "It’s kind of hot up here now. But so far, I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we’ve been provided breakfast, lunch and dinner, accommodations with water, cots, blankets and a few other things."

The Red Cross is eyeing the Agana Heights Gym and Ordot-Chalan Pago's new Multipurpose Emergency Center. They already conducted site assessments, according to Agana Heights mayor Richard Arroyo, who said, "We’re ready to go, but I believe right now, they’re going to stand up the Ordot-Chalan Pago center for their Tier II shelter. And we’re on standby for Agana Heights."

KUAM checked out the Ordot-Chalan Pago center, where there was an air conditioned gym, shower stalls, restrooms and more. When asked why that center in Central Guam was not designated as a Tier II shelter in the first place, Quintanilla says the Red Cross is taking the lead from GovGuam.

"We rely on the government’s expertise and what they approve," he noted. "We now have power here. We’re utilizing all the space and capacity here, including the restrooms and showers as well. The porta-potties are just a part of the additional services for them."

When asked the same question, Adelup communications director John Ryan explains “a significant number of the sheltered in Yigo are from that area. The north. Staying in Yigo overnight provides them closer proximity to their homes in the daytime to clean, etc.”

He adds “it looks almost certain that another Tier II shelter will open,” though Adelup was unable to confirm a location on Monday.

Quintanilla, in the meantime, says the Red Cross is ready to assist, adding, "If and when there is a need for another additional shelter, we are happy and ready to work with them. We have over 200 members of our national Red Cross teams here on Guam, assigned for both Guam and the CNMI. We’re ready to provide shelter workers, feedings, supplies if needed and if requested by the government."

For the time being, the American Red Cross is accepting volunteers and donations to support those affected by Super Typhoon Sinlaku locally and in the CNMI.

For more information, just visit redcross.org or call their Guam number at (671) 472-6217.