Northern Marianas prep for recovery and restoration
With much still unclear in the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, Gov. David M. Atapang nevertheless hosted the first press conference on April 25, at which he thanked President Donald Trump for approving the disaster declaration, and asked the people of the NMI to be patient.
Also attending were Robert Fenton, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region 9, who urged people to apply for FEMA funding as soon as possible. Fenton said recovery is a unified effort. “One of our biggest partners is the Department of War. Right now, we have the Department of Energy working with the [Commonwealth Utilities Corp.]” He said there are staff from the federal government on every island of the Northern Mariana Islands.
NMCB-1’s Seabees deliver crates of water to Saipan on April 22. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin, 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base
Additionally, Fenton said generators have come to the NMI from Hawaii and from the U.S. mainland. “We’ve installed them in a number of water systems in the CUC, there are some in shelters and the hospital has backup power.” Patrick Guerrero, the governor’s authorized representative, said the CUC was also working with the American Public Power Association.
An estimate of when initial FEMA responses are received is typically 10 days after an inspector’s visit.
According to Journal files, after Typhoon Mawar struck Guam on May 24, 2023, many Guam residents began receiving FEMA Individual Assistance Funds within several weeks to a couple of months. By early August 2023, more than $200 million in Mawar FEMA grants and SBA loans had been disbursed.
Many approvals occurred in the weeks following the disaster declaration, with some individuals reporting that grant assistance provided immediate relief for necessities. As of Aug. 3, 2023, nearly $62 million in FEMA Individual and Household Program grants had been approved for more than 19,000 applicants. More than $17.5 million was provided for rental assistance and nearly $33.4 million for home repair/replacement, with $28.9 million in Other Needs Assistance.
The deadline to apply for assistance was July 28, 2023, a little longer than two months after the typhoon.
Fenton was reluctant to share statistics although he said, “We have rough numbers now. … Concrete homes did fairly well,” he said. The NMI’s Joint Information Center did put out a recovery update the evenings of April 25 and April 26 and has been providing information as it becomes available.
The group which also included William Hague, principal deputy assistant secretary for Insular, International, and Ocean Affairs; and Angel A. Demapan, deputy assistant secretary, both with the U.S. Department of the Interior; and Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky, commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia; also discussed giving local contractors opportunities to participate in recovery construction.
As at June 13 last year, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. had a list of 40 approved contractors, which includes those providing support services.
The admiral said that the U.S. Army Pacific was the lead command for the U.S. military, but that efforts to support recovery “Includes contributions from all the services.” Construction battalions were on the ground in Saipan and Tinian, Lasky said. “There’s about 10,000 people involved in response in one way or another.”
Sinlaku recovery update as of April 25, provided by the NMI JIC:
Utilities: Power in Saipan, 15,624 out, assessments ongoing; Tinian, 100% offline; Rota, normal operation. As the Journal earlier reported on April 22, 604 power poles were downed on Saipan.
Water in Saipan, 33% restored, with a Boil Water notice; Tinian, 98% operational, with a Boil Water notice; Rota, 100% restored.
In shelters: 565 people – The Saipan Mayor’s Office is taking requests for tents from April 27.
Schools: Public schools remain closed. Northern Marianas College’s Spring Term is ending early. The Northern Marianas Technical Institute is in cleanup and recovery; Spring classes are suspended until the latter part of June.
Outside assistance: An advance group of 16 personnel from the Guam Power Authority, the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport, and the Guam National Guard are in the NMI, with more to follow after assessments.
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed soldiers from the 249th Engineering Battalion, civilian personnel with the Temporary Emergency Power Planning and Response Team, and contractors to the Northern Mariana Islands to conduct damage assessments and generator installations.
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — Multiple U.S. mainland media are reporting that the body of one of the six missing crew members from the Mariana cargo ship has been recovered. The ship was found overturned.
The APL Islander arrived in Saipan at 7 a.m. this morning – April 23 CHamoru Standard Time, becoming the first vessel to call at the Port of Saipan after it was officially reopened by the U.S. Coast Guard after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The 24th Northern Marianas Legislature scheduled an emergency session for April 23, to address recovery requirements following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
