Guam Hazard Mitigation Plan - Western States Seismic Policy Council

SECTIONSIXMitigation StrategyCapability CategoryFEMA’s NFIPEconomic ImpactAnalysisWater ResourcesManagementTable 6-1Primary AgencyContact InformationDPW542 North MarineDriveTamuning, Guam96911DPW542 North MarineDriveTamuning, Guam96911GWA578 N. Marine CorpsDriveTamuning, Guam96913Pre- and Post-Disaster Mitigation Policies and ProgramsDevelopmentPre/PostDisasterHazard-ProneAreasDescriptionPre and post Yes The NFIP is a voluntary program, whereby a community adopts andenforces ordinances that meet or exceed the minimum floodplainmanagement requirements of the NFIP to reduce future flooddamage. In exchange, the NFIP makes federally backed floodinsurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners inthese communities. In addition, membership in the NFIP enablesGuam to apply for capital-intensive hazard mitigation assistancegrants from FEMA hazard mitigation programs, including the PDM,FMA, Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), and Repetitive Flood Claim(RFC) Programs. Guam became a participating community in theNFIP in November 1985. Guam was placed on probation in April1992 due to numerous structural and procedural violations. Guamremained on probationary status for 16 years due to numerousstructural and procedural NFIP violations. In April 2008, FEMAlifted Guam’s probationary status and reinstated Guam into the NFIP.Pre and post Yes Public Law 25-173 requires the government to conduct an economicimpact statement of any proposed regulation change estimated tohave an economic impact greater than $500,000. Conducting aneconomic impact statement on proposed regulation changes as part ofthe decision-making process is a noble concept; however, in practice,this analysis is expensive and time-consuming. The public law doesnot provide any funding mechanism for conducting this analysis. Asa result, this requirement can hinder regulation changes related tohazard mitigation activities.Pre Yes GWA published the Guam Water Resources Master Plan in 2007.The master plan contains a comprehensive analysis of wastewaterand domestic water systems, improvement alternatives, and needs forthe next 20 years. Implementation of the master plan allows GWA toidentify critical facilities and vulnerable facilities and mitigatehazards to these assets appropriately, as funding becomes available.The master plan was funded with a combination of an EPAConsolidated Grant (for $1.5 million), GWA CIP funding, and bonds.6-5