How Do the People of Guam Receive Their Weather Information?

Research showing individuals' sources and modalities of receiving potentially life-saving weather hazard and forecast information is limited in the United States. These studies have shown a majority of Americans receive that information from broadcast meteorologists. Such studies have not been completed on the U.S. island territory of Guam in the western North Pacific. Guam, home to 170,000 civilians and military, and host to more than 1.5 million tourists annually, does not have broadcast meteorologists. Nor does Guam currently use Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) that are common in the U.S. to instantaneously alert a population of hazardous weather conditions. This research seeks to reveal individuals' sources, modalities and habits of receiving weather information; expose gaps in the weather communications process; and to suggest new methodologies to this process for forecasters at the National Weather Service's Guam Weather Forecast Office (WFO). An extensive surveying process enlisted Guam Homeland Security volunteers, local news and social media, word of mouth and the WFO Guam's network of Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to sample the diverse island population. Focus groups were utilized to bring a broad cross-section of the community, which included business professionals, politicians, and members of the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense. Findings from this study aim to help weather forecasters and local emergency managers better understand local and regional habits and sources of obtaining weather information and how to improve upon this enterprise.