Mangkhut makes closest approach to NMI

Saipan, Tinian and Rota continue to be on Typhoon Condition I; residents should remain indoors.

As of late this afternoon, readings recorded at the Saipan International Airport are reporting sustained winds of 45-50 miles per hour (72.42-80.47 kilometers per hour), with wind gusts as high as 65-80 mph (104.6-128.75 kph).

The same wind speeds were recorded on the island of Tinian.

Both Saipan and Tinian are currently experiencing Typhoon Mangkhut’s closest point of approach and should continue to expect weather conditions to worsen for another two hours.

Rota should be expecting the eye of Mangkhut to pass over the island at approximately 5pm to 6pm this evening.

As a strong word of precaution, residents of Rota should remain indoors even after the passage of the eye as bad weather conditions may appear to have subsided, but only to experience even worse conditions as the storm moves away from the Northern Mariana Islands.

Remain vigilant and be aware that, although it may appear calm, the worst of the storm should be expected after the closest point of approach has occurred. These worst weather conditions should be expected to continue two hours after the passage of the eye (7pm to 8pm).

Stay indoors. Avoid traveling

At this time, residents should not be traveling on public roads as conditions are risky including the possibility of flying debris and/or hydroplaning while operating a vehicle. Unless shelter is being sought or an emergency requires you to be on public roadways, remain indoors until an “all-clear” has been issued.

Shelter information

As of 5pm, Marianas High School, Koblerville Elementary School, Kagman High School and Tanapag Middle School have reached their maximum capacities.

San Vicente Elementary, Dandan Middle School and Chacha Oceanview Middle School and the Saipan Aging Center remain open.

Tinian Elementary School, Rita H. Inos Junior-Senior High School and the Rota Aging Center also remain open.

Secondary shelters are on standby, if additional shelters are needed.

Power update

The following are updates on the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s power, water and wastewater status as of 4pm this afternoon.

CUC SAIPAN

POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION:

Total trouble calls: 20

Power generation:

1. Feeders offline: Feeder 2, Feeder 3, Feeder 4, Kiya-1, Kiya-2, Kiya 4

2. Feeders online: Feeder 1, Feeder 7, Kiya-3

WATER:

1. Water service for customers in As Lito on Chalan Msgr. Martinez Road from the Shell Dandan to As Gonno Road in Koblerville has been affected due to a waterline leak at the Isley Booster Station 2. The affected areas will experience low pressure take time as operators try to serve water to this area from the Kannat Tabla tank.

2. All water wells on Feeder 4 are offline as of 1:25pmand will continue to be offline until power is back online.

3. All water wells on Kiya-1, Kiya-4 are offline as of 2:13pmand will continue to be offline until power is back online.

4. All water wells on Feeder 2, Feeder 3, Kiya-2 are offline as of 2:30pmand will continue to be offline until power is back on line.

WASTEWATER:

1. Sadog Tasi Wastewater Treatment Plant lost electricity from 2:30pm.

2. Agingan Treatment Plant lost electric from 2:30pmand is on standby generator.

3. All lift stations on Kiya-1, Kiya-4 are offline as of 2:13pmand will continue to be offline until power is back online.

4. All lift stations on Feeder 2, Feeder 3, Kiya-2 are offline as of 2:30pmand will continue to be offline until power is back on line.

CUC TINIAN

POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION:

Total trouble calls 8: ranging from damaged cross arms, pole top pins, pin insulators and customer droplines.

POWER GENERATION:

1. Feeder 1, Feeder 2 and Feeder 3 were affected and are offline as of 2:22pm.

Areas include San Jose Village, Broadway Estates, Marpo Valley, Carolinas Heights and Marpo Heights I & II.

2. Feeder 4 (IBB) online.

WATER: Islandwide water service is still online.

CUC ROTA

POWER TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION:

Total trouble calls: 0

Power Generation: Feeder 1, Feeder 2, and Feeder 3 are all down and offline. All island power supply (all circuits) are turned off until conditions are safe to proceed with assessment.

All Islands

As of 2:30pm, all CUC personnel are on stand down at their respective command centers due to unsafe conditions and will resume when conditions improve to ensure safety of all personnel.

Sheltering at CHCC

Shelter at the Commonwealth Health Center was activated at 8pm last night, Sept. 9, 2018. There will be no social admission due limited hospital capacity.

Shelter is only available to pregnant mothers who are at least 32 weeks pregnant or more or are experiencing pre-term labor

Expectant mothers are asked to check into Labor and Deliver ward where they will be assessed for either admission or given the option to shelter on-site and directed to a designated area.

If you are stable and not requiring hospitalization, stay safe at home or at a shelter closest to you. If you are using medical equipment that requires electricity (i.e., oxygen concentrators), visit the nearest available community shelter to you.

If you have a life-threatening injury or illness, visit the emergency room immediately.

Contact the CHCC Nursing supervisor on duty at 234-8950 for more instructions or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cnmichcc/ .

Shelter transportation

As road conditions have been deemed unsafe, the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority has ceased operations until the “all-clear” has been declared to begin transporting shelterees back to their homes.

Additionally, the following Youth Centers (and contact numbers) have been designated and opened as assembly areas for COTA pick up sites:

-Koblerville Youth Center: 588-2215

-San Antonio Youth Center: 234-0543

-Chalan Kanoa Youth Center: 234-8139

Multiagency updates

Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres is calling for an emergency Cabinet meeting with all department heads to determine and allocate necessary government resources for damage assessment of public and residential facilities, relief and recovery efforts, debris removal, mass care assistance, and crisis action planning.

All non-critical government operations have been cancelled for Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018.

The Public School System has cancelled classes for Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018.

Northern Marianas College (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota campuses) will remain closed on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. All classes scheduled for this day are cancelled. All student activities and events (including Student Success series) scheduled for this week have been postponed until further notice. Additional updates will be announced through the NMC website at www.marianas.edu and through NMC social media platforms.

Due to the impeding bad weather, the Department of Public Works and CUC have suspended response operations until conditions have been deemed safe.

The Captain of the Port continues to place the Port of Saipan on Zulu status until further notice.

Star Marianas operating out of the Commuter Airport has suspended services until further notice.

At the Saipan International Airport, United Airlines has cancelled all flights scheduled to depart and arrive on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018.

Stay informed

Stay tuned to the CNMI Office of the Governor and/or CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook pages for the latest Official updates on partner agencies and government operational statuses.

For more information regarding weather conditions, contact the CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or visit our Facebook Page @cnmieocswp for the latest weather bulletins and advisories.

Follow us on social media

HSEM urges the community to follow the following social media platforms to get the latest weather updates and information:

• -CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnmieocswp/
• -CNMI Office of the Governor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNMIGov/
• -Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torres/
• CNMI Joint Information Center: https://www.facebook.com/JICNMI/
• NWS Website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/
• NWS Facebook: https://www.com/NWSGuam/

For more information or media inquiries, contact Nadine C. Deleon Guerrero, HSEM Public Information Officer at ncdlg@cnmihsem.gov.mp. (PR)