Disaster assistance totals $15.8 million and counting

Federal and local assistance to victims of Supertyphoon Chaba in the Northern Marianas now totals over $15.8 million, with most of the assistance coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and low-interest loans provided by the Small Business Administration.

Based on the latest figures released by the respective agencies, FEMA and SBA assistance combine for a total of $12.83 million as of last Wednesday; the American Red Cross has issued a total of $1.4 million in monetary and in-kind assistance; while the Emergency Food Assistance Centers distributed over $1.5 million in emergency food stamps as of closing yesterday afternoon.

The number is still expected to go up as FEMA is still processing the remaining requests for assistance, while the SBA continues to process disaster loan applications. At the same time, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. has yet to issue housing voucher assistance to those who lost their homes during Chaba. The NMHC has just started releasing housing vouchers for victims of Typhoon Tingting.

Besides the obvious benefit that the residents got from the disaster assistance, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta said the aid would also have a positive effect on the local economy.

“This is a boost for our people and the economy. It’s good for the mom-and-pop stores and also the major market outlets,” he said.

FEMA, SBA ASSISTANCE

From the time President Bush declared the Commonwealth a major disaster area on Aug. 26 until Sept. 29, more than 10,000 people had called FEMA for assistance or visited the agency’s disaster recovery centers on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, resulting in the release of over $12.83 million.

FEMA public information officer John Shea said the agency has already approved 2,450 disaster housing assistance grants for a total amount of $7,296,869.

With Chaba damaging and destroying thousands of houses in the Northern Marianas, Bush authorized FEMA to provide housing assistance to the islands’ residents, more than a thousand of whom were displaced to temporary shelters during and after the typhoon.

For FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program, Shea said some 3,343 grants have been approved. The grants, which cover medical, dental, property, transportation and other expenses, totaled $3,411,437 as of Wednesday.

The SBA, meanwhile, has issued 1,329 loan applications. Of those approved, the loans totaled $2,125,700 so far.

In all, FEMA grants and SBA loans given out to Chaba victims reached some $12,834,006.

Shea said the figure is expected to rise, as both the FEMA and the SBA would continue to provide assistance to typhoon victims until Nov. 25.

Those who want to avail of FEMA’s disaster assistance may call the toll-free number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The number for those with speech or hearing impairment is TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both phone lines are open 7am and 8pm daily, until further notice.

EMERGENCY FOOD STAMPS

The Emergency Food Assistance Centers officially closed their doors yesterday afternoon, but not after 13 days of distributing over $1.5 million in aid to the Chaba victims.

In all, the centers on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota distributed about $1,584,627 to 9,289 households, serving 29,802 individuals.

On Saipan, 7,482 households were given assistance, while 742 households on Tinian and 1,065 on Rota benefited from the aid program.

“We’re glad to make a difference in the lives of our people,” said DCCA’s Babauta, whose department heads the distribution through its Nutrition Assistance Program.

“Of course there was a waiting period, but I think we’ve done a tremendous job in getting assistance to people in need,” he said.

This is the first time food assistance centers were created to provide aid on Saipan and Tinian. Aid was provided to Rota residents after the onslaught of Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.

“I think this is the first time we made this happen with the people [of Saipan and Tinian]. On previous typhoons, we gave out food commodities and other assistance, but for the first time, we provided this,” Babauta said.

Babauta said operations at the former courthouse and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library on Saipan ceased by 4:30pm yesterday.

“We waited until 4:30pm, and even before that time, there weren’t many people there already,” he said.

Babauta also extended appreciation to the Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor, the Department of Public Works, the Multi-Purpose Center personnel, the public library staff and head, the volunteers, and staff within his department for assisting with the program.

Services got underway on Sept. 18, and were originally scheduled to cease last Friday, Sept 24, but were extended on Saipan due to the high number of individuals requesting assistance. Services on Tinian and Rota were completed on the original scheduled date.

The extension was granted early Saturday, Sept. 25, by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Services in response to a request by the local NAP.

All Emergency Food Assistance disaster coupons must have been used by last night. Coupons are now invalid and won’t be honored at stores.

RED CROSS RELIEF

The American Red Cross, for its part, has issued a total of $1.4 million in monetary and in-kind assistance to Chaba victims.

Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh said the relief given following Chaba’s onslaught last August was the biggest since Supertyphoon Keith devastated the islands in November 1997.

Hirsh, however, refused to disclose the range of financial assistance distributed to victims, noting that so many factors came into play in determining the amount given to each family.

“It’s hard to quantify. There were so many variables—the size of the family, the extent of the damage, all those things. That’s why we do case work. We visit homes to make our own assessment and see what each family’s emergency needs are,” he said.

The volunteer organization provided assistance to all disaster victims, regardless of nationality or ethnic group. It concluded its relief distribution efforts on Sept. 17, or almost three weeks after Chaba hit the islands.

Aside from financial help, the Red Cross also distributed futons, comfort kits, which included basic hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, comb, brush, soap, shampoo, and deodorant; and clean-up kits, which include basic cleaning tools and supplies such as a mop, broom, pail, gloves, sponges, and cleaning solutions.

“Unlike other groups such as the Small Business Administration that provide larger grants, what the Red Cross provides disaster victims is more emergency-based,” he noted.

Hirsh said funds for the relief efforts came from the national Red Cross. In return, the local chapter held fundraisers to support the national fund. The Red Cross-NMI Chapter collected some $250,000 from local businesses and the community, said Hirsh.

“But the biggest challenge we had [during the recovery period after Chaba] was administering relief efforts in all three islands. It’s the first time in many years that all the three islands were hit by the typhoon,” he said. “Fortunately, we had good volunteers who made everything possible. We’re also grateful to all the people from off-island who came to help us.”

As of Sept. 14, the Red Cross’ damage assessment showed that a total of 1,388 homes sustained major damage or were destroyed during the typhoon that hit the Northern Marianas three weeks ago. (with Agnes E. Donato and Shan Seman)