The United States Army
04/21/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2026 15:37
Guam National Guardsmen assist in Sinlaku recovery
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - 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.
(Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - 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. (Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - 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. (Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL
(Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - 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. (Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - 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. (Photo Credit: Natasha Ninete) VIEW ORIGINAL
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 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.
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."
Related Links
The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil
State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil
The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard
The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard
The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard
The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard
The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard
The United States Army published this content on April 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 21, 2026 at 21:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]