ARES assists Red Cross in wake of typhoon

ARRL—Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands assisted the American Red Cross after Typhoon Chaba swept through Aug. 22 causing widespread damage.

While Guam was spared the brunt of the storm, more than 1,000 residents of Saipan, Tinian and Rota took refuge in shelters after the storm’s strong winds—with gusts in some places exceeding 130mph—blew away roofs, and heavy rainfall flooded homes.

Bong Malasarte, WH0X, reports ARES members assisted the CNMI Red Cross chapter during an inspection of all affected locations in Saipan.

“Most shelters are at maximum capacity,” Malasarte said this week, adding that the number of storm refugees at one point exceeded the capacity of some available shelters. WH0X said Saipan Emergency Coordinators Romeo Sison, WH0N, and Edgardo Reyes, KH0NH activated ARES to assist the Red Cross in its damage assessment.

Volunteers kept in touch with the Red Cross headquarters information station and with each other via repeater, Malasarte said. At least 10 Saipan ARES volunteers helped in the damage survey. Communication among the Northern Marianas has been reported sporadic.

Malasarte says he contacted ARES volunteer Edgardo Acollador, KH0HV, on Tinian for an update on the situation there. “He reported that most of the houses there are also flooded and devastated by Typhoon Chaba,” he said. “Also the radio station transmitter antenna tower collapsed.”

From Rota, ARES volunteer Arthur Alpino, KH0PH, reported the island was mostly in the dark following widespread damage to the island’s power lines. Utility crews have at work this week in the Northern Marianas restoring power in affected areas.

ARRL Pacific Division Section Manager and SEC Kevin Bogan, AH6QO, says he was in touch with Malasarte right after the storm. “Bong said that he had taken his family to the hotel where he works because power was out,” Bogan said. “His family is safe.”

Malasarte also told Bogan that the homes of some Amateur Radio emergency communicators in Saipan were damaged and had lost roofs.

Some 80 miles across, Typhoon Chaba passed approximately midway between Tinian and Rota. Saipan, 10 miles north of Tinian, recorded nearly 8 inches of rain, while Rota and Tinian received a foot or more from the storm.

As of 0625 UTC Aug. 27, Typhoon Chaba was some 470 nautical miles southeast of Sasebo, Japan, packing sustained winds of 110 knots with gusts to 135 knots.

(This story was featured in the ARRL website: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/08/27/4/?nc=1)