Relief supplies, equipment arrive

The USS Ashland arrived on Saipan Saturday to help with the ongoing relief efforts following Typhoon Soudelor’s swath of destruction through the island.

The Whibdey Island-class dock landing ship arrived at the Port of Saipan sometime around 6am.

“With the support of the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps here, FEMA supplies and resources and donated supplies and resources have been brought over here on the Ashland,” FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Steve DeBlasio said.

The shipload from Guam provided support to the CNMI government and residents of Saipan, particularly in helping local utilities restore power and water services.

Among the items aboard Ashland were nine 40-foot containers of food and water, 72,300 liters of drinking water, 48,200 meals, infant/toddler kits, 17 generators of various sizes, forklifts, four light towers, and tarp sheets.

“The assistance will go toward supplementing the assistance to our people at the shelters, for debris cleaning, water distribution, and other recovery efforts. All I can say on behalf of the people of the CNMI is ‘thank you.’ Thank you very much,” acting governor Ralph DLG Torres said after the 610-foot vessel was moored at the Port of Saipan yesterday morning.

About four seven-ton trucks from the ship are also in use for the relief efforts.

“This is a very welcome sight,” FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer, Steve DeBlasio, said. “These supplies will go a long way in allowing the government of CNMI and the rest of our federal and private sector partners in creating solutions to problems.”

DeBlasio also thanked the U.S. Navy for their assistance in meeting the humanitarian mission on Saipan, and praised the resilience and patience of the citizens of the CNMI.

The supplies were transported from Guam following a mission assignment issued by FEMA in its role as the coordinating agency for all federal disaster assistance.

Over 300 Marines and 300 sailors were aboard USS Ashland led by Captain Commander Dan Duhan.

“The Marines are on station until we complete our mission. Currently our mission is to off load this gear off the Ashland, to distribute water to the specific sites, we’re going to generate and purify some water here. We’re going to do some debris clearance operations. Once our mission is complete, we’ll continue on with our training,” U.S. Marine Major Joseph Montedoro said.

According to Montedoro, they also have tents on the ship to distribute to where they are most needed so that they can get people out of the shelters.

DeBlasio encouraged disaster survivors on Saipan to continue to register for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-621 FEMA (3362), adding that nearly 800 people had already done so in the first 36 hours following the Presidential declaration.

In 2013, USS Ashland also supported relief operations in the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan.