Guam Typhoon Prep Checklist: Before, During & After the Storm

BAVIN PC1251 Solar Power Bank 30,000mAh for Guam typhoon season power outages

If you have lived on Guam through a few typhoon seasons, you know the routine: the forecast cone shifts, the lines at the gas station and grocery store get longer, and everyone starts asking whether their shutters, water and batteries are ready. This Guam typhoon prep checklist breaks typhoon preparedness on Guam into four simple phases — before the season, 72 hours out, during the storm, and after — so you can work through it calmly instead of all at once.

Typhoon Mawar in May 2023 reminded the whole island that recovery can take a while. Power, water and cell service may not come back on the same day, so plan for your household to be on its own for a stretch. Always follow official updates from Guam Homeland Security / Office of Civil Defense and the National Weather Service office in Guam — this list is general guidance to help you get organized, not a replacement for their instructions.

Before Typhoon Season on Guam: Build Your Kit Early

The best time to prepare is when the sky is clear and the stores are calm. Work through these items during the quiet months.

  • ☐ Water: store drinking water for every person and pet in the house, plus extra for cooking and basic hygiene. Water outages often outlast power outages, so set aside clean containers you can fill for flushing and washing.
  • ☐ Food: stock canned and shelf-stable food that needs little or no cooking, a manual can opener, and snacks the kids will actually eat.
  • ☐ Medications: talk to your doctor or pharmacy about keeping a refill on hand, and pack a basic first-aid kit.
  • ☐ Documents: put IDs, insurance policies, property papers and medical information in a waterproof bag or container. Keep photo copies on your phone too.
  • ☐ Cash: keep some small bills at home. When the power is out, card readers and ATMs may not work.
  • ☐ Shutters and the house: check your typhoon shutters, hardware and fasteners now. Trim trees and branches near the roof, and clear gutters and drains.
  • ☐ Family plan: agree on where everyone will shelter, how you will check in with family off-island, and who will look in on elderly neighbors.
  • ☐ Light and power: get rechargeable and solar lights and power banks now, charge them, and test them monthly.

72 Hours Out: Top Off, Charge Up, Tie Down

Once a storm is in the forecast and officials begin issuing advisories, switch to final-prep mode.

  • ☐ Fill the car's gas tank and, if you can, keep it parked away from trees and power lines.
  • ☐ Fill your water containers, and consider filling the bathtub for flushing and cleaning water.
  • ☐ Charge every phone, power bank, lantern, flashlight and rechargeable fan in the house. Plug them in overnight so they start the storm at full charge.
  • ☐ Bring in or tie down everything outside: patio furniture, potted plants, grills, trash cans, toys and anything else the wind could pick up.
  • ☐ Close and secure typhoon shutters or board up windows according to your home's setup.
  • ☐ Set your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings so food stays cold longer if GPA power goes out.
  • ☐ If you rely on medical equipment that needs power, talk to your provider and make a backup plan now.
  • ☐ Know where you will go if officials tell your area to evacuate or move to a shelter.

During the Storm: Stay In, Stay Informed

  • ☐ Stay indoors, away from windows and doors, in the most protected room of the house.
  • ☐ Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, or your charged phone, tuned to official updates.
  • ☐ Use rechargeable or battery lights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
  • ☐ Keep phone use short to save battery, and turn on low-power mode.
  • ☐ Do not go outside during the calm of the eye — the wind can return quickly from the opposite direction.

After the Storm: Power Outages and Recovery

On Guam, the hardest part is often the days after landfall. Power, water and cell service can take time to restore, and the heat and humidity set in fast.

  • ☐ Wait for the all-clear from officials before going out to drive or clean up.
  • ☐ Stay away from downed power lines and standing water, and report hazards through official channels.
  • ☐ If you use a generator, run it outdoors only — never inside the house, carport, garage or any enclosed space — and keep it well away from windows and doors. Carbon monoxide can build up quickly and is deadly.
  • ☐ Use your food in order: fridge first, then freezer, then shelf-stable items. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • ☐ Boil or treat water if officials issue a water advisory.
  • ☐ Take photos of damage before you start repairs for your insurance claim.
  • ☐ Check on neighbors, especially manåmko' and anyone living alone.
  • ☐ Recharge your power banks and lanterns with solar during the day so you have light and phone power at night.

Build Your Power Outage Kit

A good power outage kit covers three things: light, a way to charge your phone, and a way to stay cool through hot, still nights. Here is what we keep stocked at Guam Route, shipped from right here on Guam.

Charge your phone

  • ☐ BAVIN PC1251 Solar Power Bank 30,000mAh — a large-capacity 30,000mAh battery with a built-in solar panel, dual USB-A outputs to charge two devices at once, and a 3-mode LED emergency light with steady, SOS and strobe.
  • ☐ BAVIN PC008 / PC007 Power Bank — choose 10000mAh (PC008) or 20000mAh (PC007), with 22.5W fast charging, built-in Type-C and iPhone cables, and an LED battery display so you know how much charge is left.
  • ☐ BAVIN PC018 10000mAh 30W Power Bank — built-in cables plus a built-in wall plug, so it is easy to top off the moment the power comes back.
  • ☐ BAVIN CB412 5-in-1 Charging Cable — one cable for Micro-USB, Lightning-compatible and USB-C devices, so the whole family can share.
  • ☐ BAVIN PC2138 68W Car Charger — three ports for charging up to three compatible devices from your vehicle's 12V–24V socket while you wait out the outage or run errands.

Light up the house

  • ☐ Solar Typhoon Lantern — a 4-in-1 lantern, flashlight, camping light and power bank that charges by solar or USB and collapses for easy storage.
  • ☐ Retro LED Camping Lantern — a dimmable, rechargeable lantern with a hanging handle, from a soft glow at dinner to bright light for getting around in a brownout.
  • ☐ Rechargeable LED Flashlight — the Omni EDL-9128 with a bright front beam and a COB side light, and no batteries to buy.
  • ☐ GuamReady Solar 800 Flood Light — a solar-powered, IP67 waterproof flood light with automatic dusk-to-dawn lighting for the carport or yard, with no wiring needed.

Stay cool

Browse the full Typhoon Ready collection for more outage essentials, or see every BAVIN power bank, cable and fan in our Gadgets collection.

Finish Your Guam Typhoon Prep Checklist Early

You do not have to finish this checklist in one weekend. Pick one section, check off a few items, and come back to it. Save or print this Guam typhoon prep checklist, share it with family, and stock your power outage kit now while the weather is calm. Stay safe, Guam.