HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A Freedom of Information Act request has revealed that the government of Guam may be lacking when it comes to updating its emergency management plan for responding to disasters.
The FOIA request was made by Republican Sen. Frank Blas Jr., who requested that every executive branch agency in GovGuam provide information regarding their “preparedness, response and recovery capabilities in response to a natural or man-made disaster event.”
The FOIA requested information on the following items:
- A list of all buildings and structures either owned or leased, inclusive of structure type and physical address.
- A list of all critical material assets (i.e., vehicles, computers and equipment critical to the operations of the agency).
- Identify what types of insurance covers each building and critical asset (damaged, destroyed, theft, or loss of use, and if coverage is common-type or self-insured)
- Copy of the continuity of operations plan (where will operations resume should a facility be deemed destroyed or unable to occupy).
- Copy of the continuity of command plan (who assumes authority and control should the agency head or critical person become unexpectedly incapacitated or unavailable).
On Monday, 43 out of 51 agencies replied.
A spreadsheet summary of the responses was provided by Blas.
The summary showed that 23 out of the 43 government agencies did not have insurance to cover buildings and critical assets against damage, destruction, theft or loss of use.
Those agencies included, the Department of Corrections, Department of Administration, the Guam Police Department and the Department of Parks and Recreation.
There were 28 agencies that did not have a continuity of operations plan should a facility of theirs be deemed destroyed or not suitable for occupancy. While 15 agencies did not have a continuity of command plan in place.
Blas pointed out that the 2016 Guam Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan requires agencies to create and periodically update their continuity of operations and continuity of command plans.
“Interestingly, several agencies submitted the exact language contained in the GCEMP, claiming it to be their plans. While they failed to detail their plans, they provided proof that they knew they were supposed to have them,” the lawmaker said in a letter to fellow senators.
Blas said the revaluation has prompted him to draft legislation to ensure government agencies are complying with the GCEMP requirements.
“I have prepared legislation to address the need to periodically review, refine and exercise our government’s comprehensive emergency management plan. I will be introducing the legislation upon receipt of the FOIA’d information from the remaining agencies.”
Frank Blas Jr.
