By Barbara Brown
(Tumon, Guam) Civil Defense Administrator Charles Esteves cautions residents to stay off the roads from now until the weather clears up. Roads are not safe for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians, as the onset of heavy rains and winds have created hazardous conditions.
Mr. Esteves, who is fresh from a briefing at Civil Defense, also said that no power outages have yet to be reported.
Acting Lt. Governor Tina Muna Barnes has been engaged in the emergency response, leaving the evening heavy weather briefing at Civil Defense as it wrapped up tonight to check on those who sought emergency shelter.
Earlier tonight Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero declared a state of emergency, which avails the Office of Civil Defense of $250,000 in emergency procurement authority to purchase the supplies and services emergency responders need to keep the island safe.
The island continues to be in Condition of Readiness 2. The government of Guam, except for essential services, is closed until further notice.
Chief Justice Katherine Maraman also has ordered the closure of the Judiciary of Guam. In a release from the Judiciary, Ms. Maraman directs:
Due to the closure of the Judiciary and in anticipation of the onset of damaging winds, all hearings, jury trials, and jury selection proceedings at the Guam Judicial Center and the Northern Court Satellite will be rescheduled.
Magistrate Hearings will be held at the earliest opportunity following the declaration of Condition of Readiness 4 (COR4) by the Governor of Guam.
All petit jurors and grand jurors should check the Judiciary of Guam's jury recording system after 5:00pm when COR4 is declared for Guam for their next jury instructions.
Any court filings due while the court is closed, shall be deemed timely filed if filed when the court re-opens for regular business.
Also, the Guam Law Library and the Judicial Education Center is closed and will re-open for normal operations at the direction of the Chief Justice.
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