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EOC downsizes manpower
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Posted on Sep 07 2004
The Emergency Operations Center may soon be deactivated once evacuees, who were displaced from their homes due to the onslaught of supertyphoon Chaba, vacate government shelters.
Jenn Castro, the EOC’s public information center, said the center has begun downsizing its manpower, sending back staff to their respective government agencies.
As of yesterday, Castro said some 72 evacuees were staying at government shelters—19 at the Ada gymnasium on Saipan and 53 at the Rota Aging Center.
She said evacuees would remain at the shelters indefinitely until their concerns are addressed. Many evacuees have damaged or flooded homes.
Castro said the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. is waiting for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s approval of a voucher program that would allow the evacuees to rent houses.
Meanwhile, Castro said the Saipan Typhoon Relief Center at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library has ceased operations after accepting applications for relief assistance.
She said a list of 51 individuals whose relief assistance applications were approved has been posted on the library’s door. Relief items include tents, tarps, cots, and blankets.
“Individuals with pending applications may call the Distribution Center on Airport Road at (670) 288-8010 to follow up on the status of their application,” Castro said.
She said relief items should be claimed at the distribution center until today. Unclaimed items might be distributed to other relief aid applicants, Castro said.
