The Government of Guam is treating Tropical Storm Sinlaku as a serious threat as it continues tracking toward the Marianas, bringing possible typhoon conditions early next week.

“The National Weather Service has made it very clear this has the potential to be a life-threatening event. Right now, the focus is on getting that word out,” said Adelup Director of Communications, John Ryan.

At this time, the Joint Information Center has not yet been activated, but Ryan says full activation is expected once Guam moves into Condition of Readiness 2, which could be in 24 to 48 hours from midday Friday.

Guam Homeland Security/Office Of Civil Defense Public Information Officer Jenna Blas urges the community to utilize the time between now and Sunday to prepare.

“We do want to let the community know, don’t be tied to sticking and preparing until you hear those changes in conditions of readiness. We are receiving the briefs from our partners at the National Weather Service and the seriousness of what we can expect. We want to prepare for a worse case scenario,” added Blas.

Across the island, village mayors and their staff are already taking action, clearing drainage systems, removing debris, and helping elderly residents secure their homes.

Crews with public works focusing on all southern villages and Chalan Pago Friday, while preparing to stage equipment in flood-prone areas.

Ryan adds the governor began preparing a disaster declaration letter to the President Thursday night.

Plus FEMA officials are expected to arrive as early as Sunday.

“The FEMA incident management assistant team, the team that comes on board early in anticipation of a storm, those efforts are already underway. So we can anticipate our federal counterparts to be here as early as Sunday,” added Blas.

Blas adds select Guam Department of Education schools are to open as emergency shelters in COR 2.

“As soon as all those details are finalized regarding which shelters will be opened, we’d be sharing that with the community and our respective village mayors, " added Blas.

Local telecom companies are also ‘doing everything they can’ to prepare, she says.

In the event all lines of communications go down immediately after the storm, officials will be going back to the basics.

“That includes working with our village mayors and seeing if they have the capability to use their megaphones and including our local law enforcement partners to see if we can get that information out further. Even something as simple as being able to print information, and actually have a runner distribute these out to the different mayors’ offices and points of distribution,” said Blas.

Meantime, the Guam Memorial Hospital is expected to distribute guidance for expectant mothers and other vulnerable patients pending activation of the Joint Information Center.