FEMA Partnership Continues
Hagåtña, Guam – On Tuesday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio met with Administrator of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deanne Criswell, Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton, and Public Assistance Division Director Robert Pesapane. The team is visiting the island following Typhoon Mawar last May.
“I extended my sincere gratitude to FEMA Administrator Criswell and her dedicated team for their exceptional commitment to our island’s recovery in the wake of Typhoon Mawar. Their responsiveness during and after the storm, coupled with their prompt resolution of critical issues, has been instrumental in our efforts to rebuild, recover, and resolve issues. We were are especially grateful for their typhoon debris removal efforts which, if left unaddressed, posed not only an environmental threat but also a hazard to the health and safety of our people,” said Governor Leon Guerrero.
“Our meeting further solidified our shared commitment to working together to strengthen critical infrastructure, reduce the impacts of future disasters, and enhance our resilience,” added Lt. Governor Tenorio. “As we face the growing threat of extreme weather events and potential manmade disasters, this collaboration is more critical than ever. Together, we will continue to forge a path towards a safer and more resilient future for our community.”
Governor Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Tenorio also discussed their support for Delegate Jim Moylan’s H.R. 6478, which, if passed, FEMA would assist the Government of Guam with repairs to the hospital, electric grid and transmissions, communications, water and wastewater, cybersecurity, and other infrastructure during major disaster declarations at 100% federal cost share. Additionally, Governor Leon Guerrero expressed her ongoing efforts to work with the Department of Defense to build harden critical infrastructure to build resiliency.
“Even the Department of Defense is making this a priority because they know the value when you have to recover after a disaster—that underground utilities are more resilient. I remain engaged with the Department of Defense, which shares a deep interest in Guam’s role in bolstering national security and defense. One of my primary messages is that you can’t have national defense or security without human health security. This underscores the urgency of our efforts to construct a new hospital and medical complex,” she said.
FEMA leadership will be meeting with various government agencies before traveling to Maui.
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