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FEMA begins processing Nabi assistance for the CNMI
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Posted on Nov 22 2005
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have arrived on Saipan to make final assessments of the damage caused by typhoon Nabi.
Vicky Villagomez, the governor’s authorized representative on disaster grant assistance, said initial assessment showed the CNMI would qualify for some $1.7 million in assistance.
“But this figure may go up or down depending on the final assessment of FEMA,” said Villagomez.
This came after President George W. Bush declared on Nov. 8 a major disaster for the CNMI due to damage from Typhoon Nabi two months ago. The president’s declaration was made under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Under this grant, the CNMI stands to receive federal relief and recovery assistance amounting to 75 percent of eligible costs.
Authorities said island residents are not eligible for individual assistance under the declaration.
The potential recipients are government agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
In his letter addressed to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Bush said that FEMA would coordinate federal assistance efforts and designate specific areas eligible for such assistance.
Woodrow Goins of FEMA is assigned to the CNMI as the federal coordinating officer for this purpose.
Babauta was earlier criticized by the leadership of the House of Representatives when he declared a state of emergency due to Nabi on Sept. 1, 2005. His opponents said that the damage from Nabi was not severe enough to justify such a declaration.
Bush, however, said in his letter that the damage in certain CNMI areas resulting from the typhoon was “of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a major disaster declaration.”
Earlier reports showed that the number of evacuees in schools and temporary shelters reached over 700 on Sept. 1, the third and last day of the typhoon.
The government also said that, while some houses sustained minor damages, there were some that were totally damaged during the typhoon.
