Shelters activated

Both the Northern Marianas College and the Public School System cancelled classes while shelters were activated yesterday in anticipation of Typhoon Yutu.

In an announcement yesterday morning, PSS cancelled classes on all three islands starting at 11:30am; NMC followed suit later in the afternoon. Although NMC did not exactly specify it, PSS noted in a subsequent press release that schools would not continue without the “all-clear” signal from the Office of the Governor.

Besides NMC and PSS, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Women, Infants, and Children Office wrapped up morning appointments and rescheduled afternoon appointments yesterday. Both the WIC and the CHCC Dialysis Center are closed today. CHCC also announced that schedules for food handler certifications yesterday is rescheduled to Oct. 30, 2018, along with renewal schedules.

Acting interim Education commissioner Lynette Villagomez told Saipan Tribune yesterday that seven schools would be open for shelterees: Tanapag Middle School, which can accommodate 40; Kagman High School, which can accommodate 80; Koblerville Elementary School, which can accommodate 46; Marianas High School, which can accommodate 100; and Dandan Middle School, which can accommodate 60.

As of 7:34pm yesterday evening, there were nine shelterees at MHS, 40 at KES, and 22 at KHS.

Other shelters under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Office, like the Saipan Aging Office, was activated as early as yesterday afternoon.

The Kagman Community Center will also be activated, according to DCCA Secretary Robert Hunter, “…after the typhoon hits.”

“We’ll be opening that, depending on the need,” he said. “…[It depends] on how many people need shelter—the short-term shelter would be active up to five to six days after the typhoon.”

Hunter noted that, as soon as possible, the remaining shelterees in the Aging Office would be moving to the KCC if long-term shelter is needed.

“…Even shelterees under PSS, the HOPE Recovery Center, the Koblerville Youth Center, and anybody who might need shelter would eventually end up at the KCC,” he said, adding that the decision would be made after the typhoon.

Since the onslaught of Typhoon Mangkhut in mid-September, shelterees were able to leave the shelter only two weeks ago, according to Hunter.

“We had 12 people [on Rota] and a family up until two weeks ago. We’ve had an active shelter operation going on since the last typhoon, so we are ready. We already have our shelter staff that lives there,” he said, adding that Nutritional Assistance Program disaster food distributions have been ongoing to assist Mangkhut victims as they prepare for Yutu.

“We’ve been in a consistent kind of disaster mode since Mangkhut, so we are ready to go,” he said.

Hunter told Saipan Tribune that, as far as DCCA is concerned, the Tinian Aging Office is available for shelter, while the Rota Aging Office was available for Rota. However, Hunter noted that opening shelters for residents depend on the mayors.