by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The Joint Information Center at Civil Defense has started to receive reports of heavy rainfall throughout the island. Matter of fact, the National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood watch and is warning residents to watch out for water levels if they live near or are hiking near streams and rivers. The flash-flood warning will remain in effect until Tuesday morning.

Much more rain, approximately 6 to 10 inches, is expected through Tuesday morning. Rain from previous days are already saturating the ground, flooding many areas around the island. Low-lying areas in the south are especially vulnerable, such as Route 1 Piti, Merizo, Inarajan, and Pago Bay.

If you're on the road going to work or going to stores in preparation of the typhoon, please drive carefully. Rain will reduce visibility and will pool on dips in the road.

If you are driving and come across flooded roads, don't drive through them. Find alternate routes.

Also, if your home is prone to flooding you may want to get to a shelter, which opens at 2 p.m. today. They are:

Northern Guam

-    Astumbo Elementary

-    Machananao Elementary

-    Maria Ulloa Elementary

Central Guam

-    George Washington High School

Southern Guam

-    Harry S. Truman Elementary

-    Talofofo Elementary

HELPFUL RESOURCES

- NOAA Tropical Cyclone information
- Satellite imagery
- Guam Homeland Security/Civil Defense