NMI declared major disaster area

Individual assistance of up to $25,600 will soon be available to victims of Supertyphoon Chaba after President Bush declared the Northern Mariana Islands a major disaster area.

Michael D. Brown, Department of Homeland Security undersecretary for emergency preparedness and response, announced in a press statement yesterday that Bush has ordered the release of federal disaster funds for the CNMI to help meet immediate emergency needs in areas struck by Supertyphoon Chaba.

Brown said the President authorized the assistance under a major disaster declaration issued directly after receiving the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s analysis of the Commonwealth’s request for federal aid. The declaration covers damage from flooding, high surf, storm surge, and high winds spawned by the storm beginning Aug. 21.

“The people of the CNMI are grateful for the presidential declaration extending federal disaster relief to the CNMI. I was officially notified of the declaration on [Friday] by Mr. Woody Goins, the director of the [FEMA] Pacific Area Office,” said Gov. Juan N. Babauta. “I want to thank FEMA for its timely and immediate response during these difficult times.”

Following the declaration, Brown designated the CNMI eligible for federal funding to pay 75 percent of the approved costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the storm, including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government. Funds also will be available to local governments on a cost-shared basis for approved hazard mitigation projects on the islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian.

Later yesterday, Brown announced that federal disaster assistance for the islands has been expanded to include aid for individuals, families and business owners victimized by the typhoon.

In a press briefing yesterday, the governor’s authorized representative, Vicky C. Villagomez, said each affected household may receive a maximum total grant amount of $25,600.

This includes lodging expense reimbursement, rental, home repair cash grants, home replacement cash grants, and permanent housing construction, in rare circumstances. Affected residents may also receive medical, dental, funeral, and transportation assistance.

Further, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to cover residential and businesses losses not fully compensated by insurance.

William Lokey, who was named federal disaster coordinator for the CNMI, stressed, however, that a family affected by the typhoon will not automatically get $25,600, as the amount of the award will depend on the damage assessment.

“One of more significant issues we have at times like this is managing expectations. For the individual assistance program, the maximum amount per family is a little over $25,000,” Lokey said. “However that is broken down into several categories. What I want to make sure is that people don’t think [they] are automatically going to get $25,600 regardless of [their] problems.”

According to Lokey, the nationwide average assistance given by FEMA in similar disasters amounts only between $2,000 to $3,000 per household.

“The SBA loans and some of the other loan programs are designed to help you make life back the way it was before the disaster. But FEMA’s individual assistance primarily [addresses] emergency needs—to give you a safe, sanitary, and secure place to live until you can get back on your feet again,” he added.

Due to changes in federal laws, only U.S. citizens and nationals and some qualified aliens are eligible for FEMA assistance.

Lokey said FEMA and the CNMI government will be issuing guidelines on how to get FEMA assistance in the following days, as the FEMA center was still being set up.

Short-term assistance such as provision of tents and tarps is also coming to affected residents, Villagomez reported. The materials will be brought in from FEMA’s warehouse on Guam and will be distributed to disaster victims on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. As of 6pm last night, Villagomez said the C-130 plane from Guam was arriving in 30 minutes.