Guam Hazard Mitigation Plan - Western States Seismic Policy Council

SECTIONSIXMitigation StrategyCapability CategoryManagement of theGHMGPRegulation of BuildingConstructionTable 6-1Primary AgencyContact InformationGuam HS/OCD221B Chalan Palasyo,Agana Heights, Guam96910DPW542 North MarineDriveTamuning, Guam96911Pre- and Post-Disaster Mitigation Policies and ProgramsDevelopmentPre/PostDisasterHazard-ProneAreasDescriptionPre and post Yes Governor Felix Camacho signed Executive Order 2004-05 in 2004,formally incorporating the GHMGP and the Recovery CoordinationOffice (RCO) into HS/OCD. Incorporating the GHMGP withinHS/OCD and empowering the GHMO to manage the GHMGP hasprovided for continuity and facilitated the selection of effectivehazard mitigation projects. For example, with the GHMO managingthe GHMGP, Guam received approximately $34 million in HMGPprojects from Super Typhoon Pongsona. Nonetheless, the GHMO isnot a permanently funded position and is dependent on disasterfunding from FEMA. To maintain continuity and facilitate theselection of effective hazard mitigation projects, the GHMO shouldbe a permanent, full-time position.Pre and post Yes DPW administers the Building Law and the Building Code, Chapters66 and 67 of the Guam Code Annotated, Title 21. DPW conductsplan reviews for all building permit requests, ensuring that allbuildings conform to the standards described in the Guam BuildingCode. In September 2010, Guam adopted the 2009 InternationalBuilding Code/International Residential Code (IBC/IRC) throughP.L. 30-199, which mandated that the 2009 IBC/IRC function as theapplicable building code for all buildings within Guam andestablished a Guam Building Code Council. Before passage of thislaw, Guam used the outdated standards listed in the 1997 UniversalBuilding Code. Adoption of the 2009 IBC/IRC has improvedbuilding construction practices within Guam, enabling buildings tobetter withstand hazards such as tropical cyclones and seismic events.6-3