A resident buys bottles of water at Home Depot in Guam Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. The small U.S. territory of Guam has become a focal point after North Korea’s army threatened to use ballistic missiles to create an “enveloping fire” around the island. The exclamation came after President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang of “fire and fury like the world has never seen.” (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)
If an attack warning is issued, Guam residents should take cover quickly — in a concrete structure, preferably underground — and stay there until instructed otherwise, according to a fact sheet titled “Preparing for an Imminent Missile Threat.”
READ: North Korea hones Guam strike plans, mocks Trump
Guam’s Office of Civil Defense began disseminating fact sheets Friday to help residents prepare for a missile attack from North Korea. The guidance includes tips on building an emergency kit, advice on staying put in concrete or brick structures, and reminders about keeping calm.
“Do not look at the flash or fireball—it can blind you,” the missile threat prep fact sheet advises those who are caught outside. “Lie flat on the ground and cover your head.”
The flier also offers guidance on removing radioactive material: “When possible, take a shower with lots of soap and water to help remove radioactive contamination.” But don’t scratch or scrub skin and “do not use conditioner in your hair because it will bind radioactive material to your hair.”
Officials haven’t raised the U.S. territory’s threat level even after Pyongyang laid out plans to strike near the island in the coming weeks, Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo said. He noted that Guam has many buildings made to withstand powerful typhoons, yet he acknowledged that nothing can protect against a thermonuclear attack.
President Donald Trump assured Calvo that Guam is safe during a phone call. “We are with you a thousand percent,” Trump said, according to video of the call posted on Calvo’s Facebook page. “You are safe.”
Calvo responded by saying he feels safe and confident with Trump’s leadership: “I’m glad you’re holding the helm, sir.”
The fact sheets didn’t seem to cause any widespread anxiety or affect day-to-day Guam life. Some people wondered about finding plastic sheeting, as one of the fliers recommends using duct tape and plastic sheeting “to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.” JPV