Storm Bolevan approaches the Marianas 

The line to gas vehicles was several cars deep at several gas stations on Sunday afternoon as the island community prepares for Tropical Storm Bolevan. Meteorologists urge the community not to take the storm lightly. 


 
Even before Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero declared Condition of Readiness 2 at 8 p.m. Oct. 8, gas stations around the island started seeing lines. Typhoon Mawar, which hit Guam on May 24, damaged power and communications infrastructure. Gas stations were also closed for several days. 
 
Bolevan is expected to pass somewhere near Rota late night Oct. 10, according to National Weather Service, Tiyan Office’s 7 p.m. Oct. 8 report.
 
Meteorologists urge residents of Guam and NMI to “plan and prepare accordingly” because all of Guam and NMI will feel some level of impact of Bolaven. 
 
“Any one or two islands could feel the maximum intensity of Bolaven as it passes with a near-miss or a direct hit,” NWS officials stated. 
 
In Guam, Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero declared Condition of Readiness 2 at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8, CST.  Government of Guam offices will remain closed until COR 4 is declared, except for essential services. 
 
Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan warned Consumer Protection Act protections against price gouging start once COR 2 is declared. The Guam Department of Education will open “certain emergency shelters” at 6 p.m. Oct. 9. 

Other closures: The 37th Guam Legislature, The District Court of Guam, Guam Community College, Bank of Guam in Guam and the NMI. 
 
Note: Some businesses may be closed for the holiday on Oct. 9: Bank of Hawaii branches are closed for Discoverer’s Day.
Advance Management Inc. is closed for World Indigenous Peoples Day. 
 
The Guam Power Authority said late afternoon on Oct. 8 that “protective measures at the power plants and substations will be taken to minimize the threat of storm/typhoon damage.” 
 
GPA field crews had started tree-trimming operations on Friday and that work continued Sunday with special focus around water wells. The to focus on tree-trimming and vegetation control as high winds can blow vegetation in to power lines, the authority said. 
 
“During the storm, the Guam Power Authority will continue to run the island wide power system and keep the power on for as long as possible. Power plants will be operational as long as it is capable and safe to do so. The Transmission & Distribution personnel will be in the field to address power problems, up to the point when supervisors out in the field state it is no longer safe to do so, and field crews will be secured. Again, as the storm approaches and winds pick up, we will eventually have to secure all personnel for safety reasons," GPA said. 

"Thereafter, as circuits trip, we may need to secure and bring units offline until it is safe to resume operations. GPA will know the areas experiencing outages via our … Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and smart grid management systems. Therefore, we ask our customers to keep calls to a minimum and limit calls to emergency safety situations only (down lines/poles, sparking lines and transformers and other immediate dangers)." 

The 24-hour Trouble Dispatch numbers are (671) 475-1472/73/74.
 
According to the Joint Information Center, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has pre-staged heavy equipment in flood-prone areas islandwide and has begun clearing poor drainage areas, in partnership with village Mayors’ offices. 

Guam Waterworks Authority started topping off all reservoirs over the weekend. 

The Port Authority of Guam continues to prepare the Port yard and have already begun working with gas companies. 

U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam declared Port Weather Heavy Condition X-RAY for Guam and NMI ports in the afternoon of Oct. 8. Commercial vessels must prepare to complete cargo operations and depart ports when PHWC Yankee is established. Sector Guam issued a particular plea for residents to stay out of the sea, following three deaths “during and immediately after Mawar.” 
 
Public schools were also closed as officials prepare to open several as shelters. 
 
Archdiocese of Agana Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Father Jeffrey San Nicolas announced that Catholic schools will not have classes on Monday, Oct. 9, either due to scheduled closure to observe Columbus Day, or because of the storm. 
 
In the NMI, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios declared Typhoon Condition 3 for Saipan, Tinian and Rota at 2.30 p.m. on Oct. 8, CHamoru Standard Time. 
 
NOTE: Further updates are expected. If this news alert is being forwarded, please sign up for free updates on www.mbjguam.com. mbj