Assistance available for eligible residents, biz owners

The CNMI Office of the Governor, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management encourages residents and local businesses who sustained property loss or damage from Typhoon Mangkhut to apply for Disaster Survivor Assistance.
Currently, the best method to register for disaster assistance in the CNMI is by speaking directly with Disaster Survivor Assistance personnel.
While disaster survivors can also register online by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362, registering in-person is preferable because the Disaster Survivor Assistance staff is able to ensure the CNMI addresses are accurately reflected in our system.

Sites for disaster assistance
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance personnel will be supporting disaster survivors by providing opportunities to register for disaster assistance, and by providing referrals to additional resources available to assist those impacted by Typhoon Mangkhut.

The following sites are open to accept Disaster Assistance applications:

• ROTA – Mayor’s Office today through Friday, from 9am to 5pm
• SAIPAN – Joeten-Kiyu Library today through Saturday, from 9am to 4 pm
• TINIAN – Dept. of Commerce Building by the Municipal Baseball Field in San Jose Village today through Friday, from 8am to 4pm, and on Saturday from 8am to 12pm

What to bring with you
To ensure a faster, more efficient application process, obtain the following information PRIOR to heading to the nearest Disaster Assistance designated site:

• Social Security Number (one per household)
• Address of the damaged home or apartment
• Description of the damage
• Information about insurance coverage (ensure you obtain policy no. information)
• Telephone number
• Mailing address

Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

SBA stands postured to help
Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to businesses and residents as a result of President Trump’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Linda McMahon announced.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing Rota, Saipan and Tinian with the most effective and customer-focused response possible and with access to federal disaster loans to help businesses and residents affected by this disaster,” said McMahon. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must first contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency atwww.disasterassistance.gov. As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Types of assistance available through FEMA
The declaration includes both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance to help people and communities recover from Typhoon Mangkhut.

Individual Assistance is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) directly to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.

Public Assistance provides reimbursement grants to state/territorial and local governments, as well as certain non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters. Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the permanent restoration of infrastructure.

Disaster relief and recovery is a whole community effort
Disaster recovery is a whole community effort. Recovery programs such as Individual Assistance and Public Assistance are just one part of that effort. FEMA and CNMI work closely with voluntary agencies, local government, and the private sector to assist survivors in meeting their disaster-caused, unmet needs.

Follow CNMI on social media
The CNMI Joint Information Center (JIC) urges the community to follow the following social media platforms to get the latest weather updates and information:

CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnmieocswp/

CNMI Office of the Governor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNMIGov/Governor Ralph DLG. Torres Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ralphdlg.torres/

CNMI Joint Information Center: https://www.facebook.com/JICNMI/

The CNMI JIC also encourages residents to download HSEM’s readyCNMI App available for FREE in the Apple iStore or Google PlayStore to receive the latest weather updates and notifications. (PR)