Governor Announces Progress in Strengthening Guam’s Ambulance Fleet

Hagåtña, Guam - Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has responded to Senator Eulogio Shawn Gumataotao, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, Emergency Management, and National Guard, regarding inquiries on procuring additional ambulances through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. In her letter, the Governor clarified that purchasing ambulances does not qualify as an eligible activity under CDBG-DR guidelines. Nevertheless, the administration has made substantial advancements in tackling the challenges surrounding Guam's emergency response fleet.

"Just months ago, our community faced a shortage, with only four operational ambulances. Today, I am proud to share that we have increased this number to six, with additional vehicles expected to be operational by the end of the week," Governor Leon Guerrero stated. "To ensure long-term sustainability, four new ambulances have been procured and are scheduled for delivery later this year. Once added to the fleet, Guam will operate a total of twelve ambulances-marking a transformative step forward in the island's emergency response infrastructure."

The administration remains committed to restoring and exceeding Guam's fleet capacity to meet community needs. However, challenges, including an aging fleet requiring frequent maintenance, a limited supply of ambulances available for purchase, and procurement delays, continue to pose obstacles. In the interim, the administration has strengthened mutual aid agreements with the Department of Defense to ensure seamless support during high-demand periods. Additionally, first-response units, including rescue teams, engine companies, and Advanced Life Support (ALS) personnel, provide critical on-site care to stabilize patients, significantly reducing ambulance turnaround times.

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