People on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are being warned today to remain in safe shelter until the all-clear is given as Super Typhoon Bavi nears with winds already gusting to 80 mph.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warns Bavi’s damage will be catastrophic ─ that with winds growing as strong as 180 mph when Bavi crosses the islands Monday, many homes and other structures will be destroyed, the power could be out for months and drinking water will be in short supply. In addition to wind damage, the islands could see flooding and landslides from almost two feet of rain and storm surge as high as 15”.

Tinian, Rota and Saipan are part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). CNMI and Guam are U.S. territories whose residents are U.S. citizens. This is the second time since April that these islands have been the target of a super typhoon. As Bavi approaches, some people are still living in temporary shelters or with makeshift roofs, trying to come back from the damage Super Typhoon Sinlaku left behind in April.

RED CROSS RESPONSE The American Red Cross has prepositioned people and supplies on the islands, disaster volunteers from across the country traveling to the islands to support those in the path of this storm. They join local volunteers from the Red Cross Guam and CNMI Chapters, all working with local officials and partners to ensure people get the help they need.

Shelters are open across the region and disaster teams are ready to support shelters, provide meals and other disaster recovery supplies as soon as possible after the storm moves away from the islands.  

On the islands, shelters open in partnership with island Education Departments, then are taken over by local officials. The Red Cross is finalizing plans to support sheltering after the storm’s impact.

Previously, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers and partners spent more than 80 days helping people after Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit the same islands in April.

FIND A SHELTER You can find open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling the local Red Cross chapter at 671-472-6217 to get connected to our call center at 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also check with local officials and monitor local news for information on where to find emergency shelter.

If possible, people who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need and all disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster.

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like floods, storms and countless other crises by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.

You can also help by becoming a volunteer. Get involved by visiting redcross.org/volunteer or contact your local chapter. Guam Chapter: (671) 472-6217; CNMI Chapter: (670) 234-3459

SAFETY STEPS The Red Cross issues the following steps people should take to help them remain safe:

1. Stay calm and keep informed. Comply with any evacuation orders. If you live in a metal roof or container home, or you live in a surge zone or any location prone to flooding, evacuate to a designated shelter or ride out the storm in the sturdy home of family or friends outside of evacuation zones.
2. Be prepared to evacuate quickly and leave the area if local officials tell you to do so. Have your disaster kit ready. Plan your evacuation route and alternates in case main roads are impassable. Where will you go and how will you get there? Will you go to a hotel, a friend or relative’s home, or an emergency shelter? Don’t forget your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.
3. Stay indoors. Avoid beaches, riverbanks and floodwaters. Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding. Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown.
4. Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown! Stay off the roads. If you must drive and you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and go another way. Follow evacuation routes and don’t try to take shortcuts because they may be blocked. If you’re caught on a flooded road and waters are rising around you, quickly get out of the car, move to higher ground and stay there.
5. During a power outage, unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from power surges. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored. Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns — not candles. Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights will be out, and roads could be congested. Decide if you need to leave if your home is too hot or cold, or if you have medical devices that need power.
6. If you’re using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions. Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside a home, garage, basement or other partially enclosed area. Keep this type of equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents. Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Operate the generator on a dry surface and don’t touch it with wet hands.

Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) Through the generosity of our American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder members, the American Red Cross is prepared before disaster strikes. ADGP and Disaster Responder members help secure a reliable funding base for disaster relief services that enables the Red Cross to respond immediately, meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by disaster.

Mission Leader Members: Amazon; American Airlines; Bank of America; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The Coca-Cola Foundation; Costco Wholesale; Dollar General; Ford Philanthropy; Lowe's; State Farm

ADGP Leaders: Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Caterpillar Foundation; Chick-fil-A; CMA CGM Foundation; Delta Air Lines; Enterprise Mobility Foundation; FedEx; Honda; Lilly Endowment Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Mastercard; McDonald’s Corporation; Merck; Nationwide Foundation; PetSmart Charities; The Pfizer Foundation; The Starbucks Foundation; Takeda; Truist Foundation; VSP Vision; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; The Walt Disney Company; Wells Fargo Foundation

ADGP Members: ALDI; The Allstate Foundation; Altria Group; Aon; Baxter International Foundation; Bread Financial; Capital One; Citi Foundation; The Clorox Company; Danaher Foundation; Darden Foundation; Delta Dental; Edison International Foundation; Elevance Health Foundation; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Fox Corporation;  GE Aerospace Foundation; General Motors; Google.org; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; HCA Healthcare; The Home Depot Foundation; The J.M. Smucker Company; Johnson Controls Foundation; The Kroger Co. Foundation; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Microsoft; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; Northrop Grumman Foundation; PayPal; PepsiCo Foundation; Stryker; Suburban Propane; Target; The Winn-Dixie Company; The TJX Companies, Inc.; Toyota; United Airlines; UPS; USAA; U.S. Bank Foundation; Visa Foundation; The Wawa Foundation; Wesco; Wingstop Restaurants; Zoetis Foundation

Disaster Responder Program Members: 3M; 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe Foundation; The AES Corporation; Aflac; Albemarle Corporation; The Allstate Foundation; American Family Insurance; American Water Charitable Foundation; Ameriprise Financial; Assurant; Avangrid Foundation; Barclays; Bath & Body Works; Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Build-A-Bear Foundation; Canadian National Railway; CDW; Charles Schwab Foundation; Cisco Systems, Inc. and Cisco Foundation; CNA Insurance; The Coca-Cola Foundation; CSX; The Deluxe Foundation; DENSO North America Foundation; DHL Supply Chain; The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation; Dollar Tree; Duke Energy; Dutch Bros Coffee; Edward Jones; Eli Lilly and Company Foundation; Enbridge; Equitable ; Erie Insurance; Farmers Insurance®; Fastenal; Grainger; HP Foundation; International Paper; Invitation Homes; John Deere; Johnson & Johnson Foundation; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation ; L'Oréal Groupe; The Labcorp Charitable Foundation; Lenovo ; Liberty Mutual Insurance; LKQ; Macy’s, Inc.; Major League Baseball; Martin Marietta; Masco Corporation; McKesson Foundation; MetLife Foundation; Mutual of Omaha Foundation; NextEra Energy, Inc.; Nike Foundation; Norfolk Southern;  Northwestern Mutual; Old Dominion Freight Line; Old Republic; Pacific Life Foundation; Phillips 66; Pilot Company; Prudential; QBE Foundation; Qualcomm; Raymond James; RBC Foundation USA; Reckitt; Reynolds American Inc.; RGA Foundation; RTX; Ryder System, Inc.; Salesforce; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; ServiceNow; Southwest Airlines; Stanley Black & Decker; Sunbelt Rentals; T-Mobile; Tennant Company; Toyota Tsusho America, Inc.; Uber; U-Haul International; Uber; Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation; US Foods; Westlake Corporation; Yum! Brands; Zurich.