FEMA set to leave on Dec. 18

Federal coordinating officer Stephen M. DeBlasio Sr. has led the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster response efforts on Saipan following Typhoon Soudelor. He has been on island for the whole response period and will remain until their Joint Field Office closes on Dec. 18. (Frauleine Villanueva-Dizon)

FEMA’s Joint Field Office on Capitol Hill will be closing on Dec. 18.

According to the agency’s federal coordinating officer, Stephen M. DeBlasio Sr., they are still working on the various areas of their response work.

“We’re continuing to work with our disaster survivor assistance teams going out and doing wellness checks with the folks who registered for FEMA assistance just to make sure that they’re doing okay and that they’re at least on the road to recovery,” DeBlasio said.

He said they are focusing on the 109 homeowners whose houses got destroyed, and another 64 renters whose living spaces were destroyed as well.

DeBlasio said they are still doing re-inspections for survivors who may not have gotten enough assistance from the agency and filed for appeal.

To date, FEMA has disbursed over $25 million in individual and housing program assistance, over $17.3 of which went to housing assistance, while over $7.8 million were given to other needs assistance.

The Small Business Administration, on the other hand, has already approved 368 home loans and 109 business loans amounting to almost $13 million and over $10.5 million, respectively.

Debris cleanup

Another area that FEMA is currently working on is debris cleanup.

“We’re continuing to work with [Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts], and [Department of Public Works] and the Mayor’s Office and [Homeland Security and Emergency Management] on the debris cleanup,” DeBlasio said.

He added that they will be focusing on villages such as Kagman 1, 2, and 3 and Garapan.

“The focus is definitely on the continuing removal of debris. I know that HSEM folks have awarded some contracts for additional equipment with operators for the [Saipan] Mayor’s Office. I believe they’re also working with DPW on some additional contracting support for either equipment or actual services,” DeBlasio said.

He noted that debris removal is hard work, especially since debris have to be separated.

“It’s tedious, time-consuming, and with a heavy reliance on equipment,” he said.

DeBlasio said all eligible debris will continue to be reimbursed for.

Based on FEMA data, almost 35,000 cubic yards of debris have already been collected.

FEMA has already obligated about $7.6 million for public assistance.

An additional $1.6 million approved yesterday by DeBlasio would include projects under the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., which is worth about $115,000; the Public School System, which accounts for $283,000; the Governor’s Office, which is about $439,700 for the repair of the Oleai Sports Complex; and the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

FEMA also donated 80-kilowatt per hour generators to the Commonwealth that enables the government to use it whenever they need it.

“We have now also transferred 14 generators to the CNMI government,” DeBlasio said.

Despite their upcoming departure, FEMA will continue to work on the projects and recoveries being made on island as well as responding to Saipan’s needs through their office in the mainland.

With only more than a week left of FEMA’s physical presence on island, Saipan is close to getting back to normal.

“Right now I feel that the island is well on its way to full recovery,” DeBlasio said.