Previous Story
FEMA completes first repair home in CNMI
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has completed repairing the first house in the Commonwealth under its Permanent Housing Construction Repair program.
The repaired home was turned over to the homeowner last Nov. 21 and included a repaired roof, smoke detectors, interior finishes, and hurricane shutters.
“FEMA, in conjunction with the CNMI governor, are pleased to announce the completion of the first repair home. With construction picking up across the island, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge this milestone in our program,” FEMA said in a statement yesterday.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres thanked FEMA for helping the CNMI not only through the PHC program, but also with other programs following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018.
“I want to thank FEMA for approving my request to make the PHC program available for our affected homeowners and their families. While we are still recovering from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu, the ongoing repairs and construction of homes brings renewed hope to the families who have been temporarily displaced by the storm. I also want to thank the many volunteers and construction workers who have traveled here to help our community rebuild and recovery,” he said in the FEMA statement.
The Permanent Housing Construction program is offered in insular areas outside the continental United States where alternative housing resources are unavailable or scarce, where repairs are neither feasible nor cost-effective.
Torres requested the program and FEMA approved and will finance and manage the repair home construction. Applicants have been approved on a case-by-case basis.
PHC-repaired homes are designed to codes and standards, including mitigation for typhoons, and are fully concrete, feature typhoon shutters, and a water catchment system. Approximately 157 eligible households have elected to participate in PHC-Repair Program, including 11 on Tinian.
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD). (PR)
