President declares Guam in state of emergency, Moylan secures House support

President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency for Guam and ordered federal assistance to supplement territory and local response efforts.

According to a statement from the White House, "the president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures."

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. 

Federal assistance, under the public assistance program will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. 

Meanwhile, Guam Del. Jim Moylan met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to enlist his support for typhoon recovery assistance.

They met earlier today to record their remarks.

"But I'd like to make this pledge to you, we will be there for Guam to make sure to help them as we get through this," McCarthy said. "We hope there isn't a lot of damage, we hope everybody is kept safe. but we will be there in the need and the time as this passes over."

Moylan also met with a host of federal agency representatives to begin coordinating post-typhoon recovery plans. 

"Additionally, I held an interagency briefing with FEMA, NOAA, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Defense INDOPACOM, and the U.S. Coast Guard to get a better grasp of the projections and to begin some planning for the aftermath inclusive of what assistance can be brought to the table from the federal side."

"My thoughts and prayer are with you all as we are a strong and resilient community, we will get through this together," Moylan said.