{"id":597806,"date":"2026-04-21T15:42:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/597806\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T15:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:42:12","slug":"guam-national-guardsmen-assist-in-sinlaku-recovery-article","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/597806\/","title":{"rendered":"Guam National Guardsmen assist in Sinlaku recovery | Article"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Guam National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Gerard Paulino, recruiter, and Sgt. 1st Class John Penaflor, recruiting and retention section chief, Guam Army National Guard, direct traffic at an intersection in Dededo, Guam, April 18, 2026. Guam National Guardsmen, alongside local law enforcement authorities and first responders, set up traffic control points at various locations experiencing power outages due to damage from Typhoon Sinlaku.
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Guam National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Ignacio Cabrera, fire support sergeant, Guam Army National Guard, directs traffic in Maite, Guam, April 18, 2026. Guam National Guardsmen, alongside local law enforcement authorities and first responders, set up traffic control points at various locations experiencing power outages due to damages from Typhoon Sinlaku.
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Guam National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Edward Babauta Jr., Army bandsman for the 721st Army Band, Guam National Guard, poses in front of an intersection in Dededo, Guam, April 20, 2026. Babauta was assigned as a road guard at a traffic control point as part of the Guam National Guard’s contribution to Typhoon Sinlaku response and recovery efforts.
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BARRIGADA, Guam \u2013 Guam National Guardsmen are supporting recovery efforts and overseeing traffic control after Typhoon Sinlaku\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

However, their responsibilities extend beyond issuing stop-and-go signals and include general driver and pedestrian safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a road guard, we aren\u2019t just controlling the flow of traffic, we are also trained and able to respond to events that may be out of the ordinary,\u201d said Staff Sgt. Edward Babauta, Army bandsman for the 721st Army Band, Guam National Guard. \u201cWe are here to assist local law enforcement and first responders with ensuring the overall safety of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each traffic control point is staffed by three or four Guardsmen who rotate every 30 minutes during 12-hour shifts. Although only one of them is directing traffic at a time, they must all remain alert and vigilant for any suspicious or unusual activity, Babauta said.<\/p>\n

Their presence not only reinforces coordination with local authorities but also provides reassurance to the public during a time of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are activated for the people of Guam,\u201d Babauta said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we are here for, to assist our community in any way necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related Links<\/p>\n

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil<\/a><\/p>\n

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil<\/a><\/p>\n

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com\/us.nationalguard<\/a><\/p>\n

The National Guard on X | X.com\/USNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

The National Guard on YouTube | <\/a>YouTube.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n