Bush declares NMI disaster area

President Bush yesterday declared the Commonwealth as a major disaster area to make available federal relief and recovery assistance, over a month after typhoon Tingting caused damage to public and private facilities on the islands.

With the presidential declaration, the CNMI now becomes eligible for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation programs pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Bush designated Federal Emergency Management Agency’s William Lokey as federal coordinating officer for disaster recovery efforts.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said FEMA representatives would arrive in the CNMI this weekend. He designated Vicky Villagomez as his authorized representative, as FEMA and the CNMI prepare to execute an agreement regarding the expenditure of federal funds.

Bush said federal assistance would be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs in rehabilitating public facilities and infrastructure.

Bush added, however, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency could consider waiving the CNMI’s cost share for certain programs if requested and warranted, pursuant to the Insular Areas Act.

“I have declared a major disaster…for the Commonwealth…due to damage resulting from flooding, high surf, high winds, and wind-driven rain associated with Typhoon Tingting on June 27-29, 2004. I have authorized federal relief and recovery assistance in the affected area,” Bush said in a letter to Babauta.

Even before Babauta received Bush’s communication, though, the FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance would be made available to Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Homeland Security Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael D. Brown said he designated the three islands eligible for federal assistance.

Babauta’s press secretary, Pete Callaghan, said arriving FEMA representatives would begin damage assessment on the islands when they arrive this weekend.

He said the CNMI government could avail of various forms of help through FEMA’s pubic assistance program.

“Public Assistance has seven categories of relief for government buildings, lands and infrastructure. They include debris removal, emergency protective measures (including overtime incurred during the storm), roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks. The storm caused millions of dollars in damage in the mentioned categories,” Callaghan said.

“Hazard Mitigation allows the CNMI to identify areas that are traditionally hit hard during typhoons and take preventive measures in order to minimize damage during future storms. Among other areas, this could potentially help [the] CHC’s [Commonwealth Health Center] medical storage facility, which is especially prone to flooding,” he added.

Callaghan said several agencies—including the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the departments of Public Works, Public Safety and Public Health—have incurred substantial overtime cost due to recovery efforts after the typhoon.

Based on the preliminary damage assessment jointly conducted by the CNMI and FEMA, damage to Saipan and Tinian reached over $2.53 million.

Of this estimate, some $650,000 pertains to the cost of utilities restoration; $350,000, roads and bridges; $250,000, buildings and equipment; $210,000, parks and recreational facilities; $150,000, water control facilities; and $77,000, debris clearance. Some $82,000 would cover overtime pay of government personnel during response and recovery efforts after the typhoon.

Babauta earlier disclosed an estimated $761,800 worth of damage on Rota’s roads and bridges, besides the over $1 million damage to the island’s only commercial port. No disaster declaration has been made yet for the Northern Islands, where houses and agricultural crops were destroyed and wiped out.