BARRIGADA, Guam – Guam National Guardsmen are supporting recovery efforts and overseeing traffic control after Typhoon Sinlaku’s slow crawl through the Pacific April 13-15 brought substantial damage to Guam and the northern Mariana Islands, leaving many residents still without power or water a week after the storm hit.
Guam Army and Guam Air National Guardsmen have established and are staffing traffic control points at key intersections and affected roadways to ensure the steady, safe movement of emergency vehicles, utility crews and residents.
However, their responsibilities extend beyond issuing stop-and-go signals and include general driver and pedestrian safety.
“As a road guard, we aren’t just controlling the flow of traffic, we are also trained and able to respond to events that may be out of the ordinary,” said Staff Sgt. Edward Babauta, Army bandsman for the 721st Army Band, Guam National Guard. “We are here to assist local law enforcement and first responders with ensuring the overall safety of our people.”
Each traffic control point is staffed by three or four Guardsmen who rotate every 30 minutes during 12-hour shifts. Although one of them is directing traffic at a time, they all must remain alert and vigilant to any suspicious or unusual activity, Babauta said.
Their presence not only reinforces coordination with local authorities but also provides reassurance to the public during a time of uncertainty.
“We are activated for the people of Guam,” Babauta said. “That’s what we are here for, to assist our community in any way necessary.”