Federal aid now available to Guam residents affected by Typhoon Bavi
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
President Donald J. Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Guam, unlocking federal assistance for residents affected by Super Typhoon Bavi, which struck the island in July.
"This declaration is an important step forward in Guam's recovery from Super Typhoon Bavi," Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said.
The presidential declaration issued on Oct. 7 authorizes individual assistance for eligible households and public assistance for emergency work and repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
The governor noted that federal aid will be available "for the first time since the storm," covering the incident period from July 4 to 12.
Super Typhoon Bavi slammed Guam and nearby islands with catastrophic winds up to 180 mph, causing widespread flooding, structural damage and ongoing recovery efforts.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which funds projects that reduce long-term risk from natural hazards, is still under review.
Unlike the emergency declaration approved in July, this declaration includes federal assistance for eligible individuals and households affected by Super Typhoon
"Our families, our mayors and our front-line agencies have carried this recovery since July," Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio said. "We will share details on how to apply as soon as they are available, and we ask residents to rely only on official government sources for that information."
On July 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from the storm.
The department noted that agricultural operations in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have been significantly impacted by Typhoon Bavi and related weather events.
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