‘Rota needs to be declared state of disaster’

Sen. Teresita A. Santos (R-Rota) said yesterday that the destructions to properties and crops brought by Typhoon Dolphin were extensive and that people may require ample time to recover or rebuild from the loss.

“The winds were monstrous. This is the first time they have heard those kinds of sounds,” said Santos in an interview.

Considering the extent of damage, it clearly shows that Rota needs to be declared a state of disaster, she said.

“So perhaps there may be some assistance in some form that may be available to those who are greatly impacted by the typhoon,” she said.

Santos said that based on her telephone interviews with Rota residents, majority were affected as a result of the extensive damage.

She said many power poles fell and majority of houses that had tin roofs were totally destroyed and torn apart.

The senator said many were forced to seek shelter elsewhere because they were so scared.

Citing an Emergency Management Office representative’s report, she said about 19 people took refuge at the Aging Center, the designated shelter.

Santos said that people started feeling the typhoon’s brunt on Friday at 6:30pm and all the way to the next morning.

She said even after Typhoon Dolphin left Rota, strong winds and rains could still be felt.

Santos said it was the first time in recent memory for a typhoon to pound the island at such full strength yet took its time exiting.

“Imagine, from 6:30pm all the way to the following morning. Maybe that’s about seven to eight hours, it kept grilling the island,” the senator said.

Santos said she is just thankful that there were no casualties and injury-related incidents.

She is also praised the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for immediately trying to restore the power and water supply. She also commended the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works and other agencies for removing the debris from roads.

Santos said as of yesterday afternoon, she received reports that about 80 percent of their power has been restored, while other places about 60 percent.

Shelter

On Saipan, as of 3:15pm on Friday, 31 people or five families sought shelter at the Dandan Middle School.

People started coming to Dandan Middle School at 6am Friday when the school opened its shelter.

Dandan Middle School vice principal and shelter manager Reo Arriola said their capacity is 30 people but because there were a lot of children, they decided to accommodate more.

Dandan Middle School served as the primary shelter and San Vicente Elementary School was the secondary shelter.

Arriola said they didn’t have any issues because they prepared ahead of time.

Jose Alex Joseph, 55, went to the Dandan Middle School shelter at 7:15am with his wife, daughter, and their eight grandchildren.

Joseph said their house in Dandan Homestead is concrete, but the roof is made of tin so it’s not safe.

“Mother Nature is more stronger,” said Joseph, who also took shelter with his family at Dandan Middle School when Tropical Storm Bavi battered the CNMI last March.

At 3:45pm on Friday, there were 10 people (three families) who took refuge at San Vicente Elementary School.

San Vicente Elementary School vice principal Anna Guerrero said people started to register at 11am and started coming at 12:45pm.

“We’re good,” Guerrero said.

An elderly woman, who was among 10 people at San Vicente, said they called Dandan Middle School to register but were informed to proceed to San Vicente School.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said they went to Dandan Middle School during the last typhoon in March.

She, her sister, and two other family members came to San Vicente because they were worried that their tin houses in Dandan may be blown away.

At the same time on Friday, at Koblerville Elementary School shelter, 85 registered and 65 people came.

It was reported that over 270 people sought shelters on Saipan.