OPINION Lotz: Guam lacks safety plan in the event of a war

The Sakishima Islands, a portion of the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan, are located between Okinawa and Taiwan with a population of 120,000. The government of Japan has recently completed an evacuation plan in the event of a war in the region, like between China and the United States.

In the plan the residents and visitors would be evacuated to the main islands of Japan in six days. In addition, the plan calls for the construction of underground shelters to withstand bomb blasts with resources to survive for two weeks. In peacetime, these facilities serve alternative uses.

Japan recognizes the primary function of a government is to safeguard the people of the country. Apparently, the United States has forgotten this basic obligation of our government. Perhaps the thinking is that the yet to be installed missile defense system, which is untested against a massive Chinese missile assault, will completely protect our islands. Even if the missile defense was successful, severe shipping disruptions will result in food, fuel, and medical shortages.

On Guam there is virtually no shelters or plans to protect the island’s residents and no plan or funding are even contemplated by the governor of Guam or the federal government. Apparently during the recent visit of Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, there was no discussion regarding civil defense for the people of Guam. The current plans for civil defense on Guam are only for typhoons and earthquakes and not military attacks.

A plan for the safety of the people of Guam in wartime needs to have several components. These include evacuation, shelters, storage and rationing of essential supplies including food, medical items, clothing, public safety, medical care, an effective warning system, transportation, backup communications, alternative power sources, stockpiled water, and information provided in advance to all residents.

Many of these government components should be integrated into current planning for the island such as hardening of a new hospital which should be located a considerable distance away from obvious targets such as a missile defense site and power plants. Apparently, it is too late to have a hardened new Simon Sanchez High School.

Therefore, our safety in the event of a war will fall on our individual and family planning since obviously the government will not provide civil defense for us.

Considered essential for your family safety to be considered are the following:

1. Prepare your family
2. Stockpile food, water, and other goods
3. Have a hardened secure place for shelter
4. Stick together
5. Learn basic survival and sustainment skills
6. Have a means of transport
7. Learn basic self-defense
8. Learn first aid
9. Radio communications are essential
10. Stay away from danger areas

With our experiences surviving typhoons, we should have confidence to apply those skills to a new wartime challenge. Plan for the worst and pray for the best.