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Typhoon displaces 85
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Posted on Sep 07 2000
At least 85 individuals trooped to eight designated emergency shelters near their villages to seek refuge from tropical storm Saomai.
Chalan LaoLao resident Rosario Peter and her family moved to the Garapan Elementary School shelter early Tuesday evening with hopes of seeking temporary relief.
“We had to evacuate because our roof leaks with rain and my grandfather cannot be exposed to that because he has an ailment,” said Ms. Peter.
Three to four other families residing near the Garapan area occupied some of the classrooms at the GES campus.
The GES emergency shelter, according to Emergency Management Office Director Greg A. Deleon Guerrero, has the most number of evacuees, housing some 55 adults and children.
“But other families have already gone back to their homes,” added Mr. Guerrero.
Tanapag Elementary School, Oleai Elementary School, Marianas High School, San Vicente Elementary School, William S. Reyes Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School, and the CNMI Convention Center have also been tapped as emergency shelters by EMO since Tuesday night.
Public School System personnel are closely collaborating with EMO in providing shelter services to families in need.
“There is more coordination now between PSS and EMO and our team plays a significant role in this simply because we know our schools and we have people there who can assist the families…so they can be safer,” said Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.
In conjunction with EMO, PSS Administrative Services Officer Jess Sanchez was assigned by Dr. Inos to lead the shelter operations.
Dr. Inos said she will wait for further advisory from EMO before she declares the resumption of classes for public schools.
Public school students took a break from school yesterday due to the stormy weather conditions.
Meanwhile, EMO has advised the residents of Tinian and Saipan that typhoon condition II remains in effect in these island municipalities.
Rota has also been placed under tropical storm condition III. The agency also continues to put the island of Agrihan under close typhoon watch.
