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Aging Office didn’t receive shelter requests
The CNMI Office of Aging in Garapan received no shelter requests as Typhoon Cimaron pelted the Marianas with heavy rain from Monday to Tuesday.
Office of Aging director Walter Manglona told Saipan Tribune yesterday that his office did not receive any shelter requests. Just the same, the office was on standby just in case it was needed as a shelter, he added.
“The building is to be utilized as a shelter and our department works closely with the Office of Homeland Security,” Manglona told Saipan Tribune. “We provide assistance by any means in order to get the place ready for a possible shelter for people that are in need of assistance or housing during the storm.”
According to Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Robert Hunter, who is currently off-island, the Aging Office reportedly has a capacity to accommodate 40 people.
The dining hall of the Aging Office, according to Manglona, was cleared for possible evacuees but it remained unused at the height of the heavy rain. “…[Nobody] showed up [for shelter],” Manglona said.
The Public School System and the Aging Office collectively opened five shelters throughout Saipan: the Office of Aging, Kagman High School, Koblerville Elementary School, Tanapag Middle School, and Tinian Elementary School.
According to a previous statement from Homeland Security, there were only two shelterees at Kagman High School, six at Koblerville Elementary School, 10 at Tanapag Middle School, and none at Tinian Elementary School as of 8:30pm Monday. PSS was unable to verify with Saipan Tribune the total count of shelterees from Monday through Tuesday.
