CNMI’s overtime costs skyrocketing

The CNMI government is incurring substantial overtime costs due to the accumulated overtime work rendered by personnel and officers from various agencies since the start of the typhoon and through the ongoing recovery and restoration activities.

Governor’s press secretary Peter Callaghan said the Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Department of Public Health, and Department of Public Works are topping the list of agencies accruing additional expenses since Saturday.

“Other agencies also are accruing overtime, some of them even before the time that Typhoon Tingting hit Saipan Sunday. This is going to be in millions, not only the overtime but also the damage sustained by different agencies and departments during the onslaught of the storm,” Callaghan said.

He, however, declined to specify any figures.

The press information officer said that after the assessment, the CNMI government hopes to get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in paying out all repair and replacement costs, including salary and overtime pays.

“We hope to get the FEMA assistance not only in overtime but also the damage we sustained that are running in millions,” he said.

Callaghan said the assessment would not be finished today as FEMA officials have also decided to inspect Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands. FEMA was initially scheduled to complete the Preliminary Damage Assessment in two days.

The CNMI government is coordinating joint assessment work with FEMA to determine the types of disaster assistance the CNMI could avail of, as well as estimate the amount of damage caused by the typhoon.

Based on FEMA’s own initial assessment, massive repair work is needed by various government agencies severely hit during the three-day nonstop rain.

Five wards at the Commonwealth Health Center are now inoperable after the typhoon damaged 10 of the hospital’s air conditioning units. DPH’s medical supply medical building in Lower Base was also flooded and needs immediate repairs. Also, the report said critical medical supplies were immediately transported to DPH for safekeeping.

At the CUC side, at least 50 poles went down and several transmitters were damaged while DPW reported extensive road damage that needs immediate repair.

Callaghan said FEMA officials headed by Hawaii Region 9 Pacific Area officer Sean Dowling and FEMA-Guam officers Ray Jualian and Edward Palacios have met with the EMO and members of the CNMI Response Action Committee to discuss preliminary reports on Tingting’s onslaught.

The damage assessment is needed to determine if the CNMI can qualify for federal assistance.

Callaghan explained that based on the category of assessment, FEMA can extend help to individuals and businesses affected by the typhoon.

Callaghan said that, if preliminary assessment determines that the CNMI can be accorded federal assistance, it is possible that expenses incurred would be split by the CNMI and the U.S. governments. “It is possible that it could be waived if the governor would request for it,” he added.