Evacuees vacate elementary schools

Authorities completely evacuated yesterday hundreds of residents temporarily sheltered in elementary public schools to four alternative shelters, with the Public School System planning to resume classes as soon as possible. The number of evacuees in government shelters remained high at 990.

Emergency responders began relocating the evacuees since Thursday, beginning with some 60 persons from Oleai Elementary School, who were moved to the Ada gymnasium.

Yesterday afternoon, some 146 evacuees from the Garapan, Koblerville, and William S. Reyes elementary schools moved to the Ada gym, according to Jenn Castro, public information officer at the Emergency Operations Center.

Some 126 evacuees relocated to the Kagman Community Center from the Kagman High School and the ChaCha Junior High Thursday; 32 others moved to the Dandan Community Center from the Dandan Elementary School; 25 others transferred from Tanapag Elementary School to the Tanapag Social Hall.

As of yesterday, the number of evacuees staying at the alternative shelters totaled 275, with some evacuees opting to go back to their homes. Some 498 others wait to be transferred from schools to long-term shelters.

Castro said, however, that the number of residents staying in government shelters remained at 990—773 on Saipan, 113 on Rota, and 104 on Tinian.

At the Ada gym, evacuees settled at the basketball court, which was covered with a sheet. Adults, teenagers, persons with disabilities, and infants settled at the spacious gym, lining up their beddings beside each other.

Herman Indalecio Jr., whose Koblerville house got destroyed by Chaba’s strong winds, prepared yesterday to relocate to the gym from the Koblerville Elementary School, where he and his wife, Naomi, stayed beginning Monday.

“Maybe, [the gym is] more noisy. [There is] no privacy,” Indalecio said. “This is the best we can accept. [My house was] gone with the wind.”

Some 192 military-surplus cots would be flown from Guam to Saipan for use at the shelters, the EOC said.

Medical supplies good for 2 weeks

Medical supplies at the Commonwealth Health Center can still last for about two weeks, but the hospital has to pay its dues to vendors to avail of new supplies.

“[The] primary vendor is awaiting past due payment before allowing the hospital to purchase more supplies,” the EOC said.

It reported that the CHC has begun discharging patients, improving the congested situation at the hospital.

The CHC would house patients with special needs, such as those needing dialysis and home health care, at government housing administered by the MIHA, according to the EOC.

It also said that critical telephone lines, including that of the Public Health Secretary, have yet to be restored.

The Public Health Department, though, managed to provide medical services to some 60 patients in government shelters. It has also been providing crisis counseling at the shelters, the EOC said.

On Rota, the EOC reported that the Rota Health Center’s oxygen supply might be depleted within 10 days. The health center also needs fans and linen supplies, besides oxygen tanks. However, it remains operational without air-conditioning, while nursing staff is adequate. The Tinian Health Center, meanwhile, needs one physician, according to the EOC.

EMO’s communication hampered

The Emergency Management Office’s microwave dish on Saipan sustained damage, resulting in static transmission affecting EMO and Public Safety communications, according to the EOC.

This adds to government facilities damaged by the supertyphoon, including Rota’s main fire station, which houses firetrucks, ambulance, and response equipment. The Department of Public Works’ garment recycling facility on Saipan also sustained a damaged roof.

However, the airports on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota were all operational. The Commonwealth Ports Authority yesterday opened the Port of Saipan after an inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard. The EOC said the Coast Guard has begun fixing navigation aids on Tinian and would proceed to Rota soon after to inspect the island’s harbors.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. managed to substantially restore power supply on the three islands. The EOC said Saipan’s power supply is now 95-percent restored; Tinian, 67 percent; and Rota, 50 percent.

“The two Rota generators are operational and the backup generator is undergoing postsecondary repair,” the EOC said.

While Tinian’s water supply has been fully restored, those on Saipan and Rota have been revived to 90- and 95-percent normalcy.

Debris clearing on Saipan is now half-complete, while drainage maintenance is being conducted islandwide, the EOC said.