Selected Theme: Strategic Collaborations: Public Health Service and HHS Interagency and Non-Governmental Collaborations Abstract Title: United in Crisis: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Collaborative Interagency Approach in Response and Recovery to Super Typhoon Mawar on Guam Submitted By: LCDR Huan Tran and LT Claire Tipton, on behalf of the FDA Typhoon Mawar Incident Management Team Background/Problem: On May 24, 2023, the U.S. Territory of Guam, a strategic base of operations for the U.S. military in the Pacific region, was struck by Category 4 Typhoon Mawar. With over 140 mph winds and 25 ft storm surge, the strongest typhoon to strike Guam in over 20 years caused widespread destruction, flooding, and infrastructure failures. In response, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) immediately established an Incident Management Team (IMT) to secure the safety of FDA personnel stationed on island and ensure operational continuity through strategic collaborations with local, federal, and Department of Defense (DoD) partners, including the Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS), Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency (CQA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Public Health Activity (PHA), and leadership from the DoD Joint Region Marianas. The FDA Typhoon Mawar IMT encountered numerous challenges. Operating across three vastly different time zones led to late-night operations, straining personnel. Establishing FDA authority amid disrupted import operations added complexity. Managing personnel movements posed logistical difficulties. Guam's compromised infrastructure, extended lack of essential services, and post-disaster conditions strained staff morale and effectiveness. Shortages of water, power, and air conditioning jeopardized hygiene and safety. Unreliable communications disrupted coordination efforts. Overcoming these hurdles demanded resilience and emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness and adaptable strategies in safeguarding public health during crises. Despite challenges, the IMT successfully met its incident objectives, including prioritizing staff safety, establishing crucial communication channels with local partners to identify areas of support, and confirming the status of FDA assets on island. Additionally, the IMT coordinated a multi-agency effort to secure the national supply chain by conducting post-disaster assessments of 53 FDA-regulated firms. The IMT also worked with Guam DPHSS to develop three post-disaster Public Advisories, coordinated with local authorities to successfully deliver vital blood supplies to hospitals in need, and collaborated with EPA to ensure safe drinking water by collecting and testing emergency water tank supplies. This interagency cooperation ensured the efficient deployment of crucial resources and expertise to address the diverse challenges posed by the typhoon. This abstract highlights the innovative strategies employed by the FDA to navigate the challenges posed by a Category 4 Typhoon on Guam. It underscores the agency's dedication to protecting public health through interagency collaboration and ensuring regulated firms can continue to meet their responsibilities even in the face of natural disasters. The lessons learned from this experience will contribute to improved disaster preparedness and response efforts in the future, benefiting both the FDA and the communities it serves. Outcomes: Following this presentation, the participant will be able to... 1. Understand the key characteristics and impacts of a Category 4 typhoon on a U.S. Territory like Guam, including the challenges it poses to public health and infrastructure. 2. Describe the role of the FDA in disaster response and responsibilities in ensuring personnel safety and operational continuity. 3. Identify the FDA IMT’s incident objectives and how they were achieved using interagency collaboration and efficiently deploying resources during disaster response. 4. Summarize lessons learned from the FDA IMT’s Typhoon Mawar response.