Previous Story
FEMA staff dies due to flu-like symptoms
A staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has died in the Commonwealth.
Details of the death of Thomas Stilwell have yet to be provided, except that he “battled influenza-like symptoms,” according to the Governor’s Office.
“As of now, the only details that we know of are that Mr. Thomas Stilwell passed away peacefully at [the Commonwealth Health Center] last Saturday evening. He battled influenza-like symptoms,” press secretary Ivan Blanco said in an email.
He said members of Stilwell’s family are now en route to Saipan and are expected to arrive last night.
Gov. Eloy S. Inos has extended his condolences and has offered assistance to Stilwell’s family
“On behalf of the people of the CNMI, I express my deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Thomas Stilwell and to his FEMA colleagues. Mr. Stilwell’s untimely passing last Saturday night is a great loss for his family, his FEMA colleagues, and for the people of the CNMI,” Inos, in a statement, said.
The governor is also asking “every citizen of our Commonwealth to join me in keeping Mr. Stilwell’s family in our prayers as we offer our condolences and deepest sympathies.”
“I understand Mr. Stilwell’s family is en route to Saipan, and I want to offer any assistance they may need during this difficult time,” Inos said.
FEMA
FEMA has yet to release a statement on the passing of Stilwell.
The agency has been assisting the CNMI in the wake of Typhoon Soudelor through disaster-related financial assistance programs and deploying numerous staff on the field.
In its latest update last week, FEMA said the total number of housing inspections has reached 2,005 households and more than 7,500 registrations have been received by the agency.
More than $4.29 million have been approved for disaster-related assistance, the agency said.
Survivors are still being encouraged to register for assistance.
