A bill introduced by Sen. Shawn Gumataotao would eliminate Guam’s Office of Civil Defense and assign emergency preparedness and response to the Guam Fire Department.
Bill 179-38 directs the fire department to assume all funding, facilities, and equipment currently used by the Office of Civil Defense.
“Since 1985, GFD continues to maintain a modern emergency response infrastructure and 24/7 readiness to protect life and property during times of natural and manmade disasters,” Gumataotao stated in a news release announcing the bill. “Together with the Guam Police Department, the Mayor’s Council of Guam and other local emergency response agencies in cooperation with their federal and military counterparts I believe that GFD has the vision and leadership to serve as the government of Guam’s lead department responsible for all emergency management coordination in Guam now and into the future.”
Gumataotao, who has oversight of the island’s emergency response, said the measure was introduced after scathing audits of the civil defense agency and a May missions check that found poor readiness.
The bill also directs that Guam Hazard Mitigation Programs will be added to the work of the Guam Department of Public Works. The Office of the Governor of Guam will remain accountable for Recovery Office activities with the numerous ongoing disasters to include the COVID-19 Global Pandemic and Typhoon Mawar that struck Guam in 2023.