Govt, non-profit organizations, individuals urged to apply for assistance

The CNMI Office of the Governor, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Office of Public Assistance in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency is highly encouraging local government entities and non-profit organizations who sustained property loss or damage from Typhoon Mangkhut to apply for Public Assistance.

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.

In order for an entity to be deemed eligible for Federal Assistance, applicants must first complete and submit a Request for Public Assistance form to the CNMI Public Assistance Office. Requests for this Form may be emailed to Ms. Reyna Saures at reynasaures.pa@gmail.com or contact the PA Office at 664-2411-14.

Individual Assistance continues to be made available for residents.

Individual Assistance is provided by FEMA directly to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.

The following sites are open for CNMI residents to register for Individual Assistance:

Rota: Mayor’s Office – Today through Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Saipan: Joeten-Kiyu Public Library – Today through Thursday of next week, Oct. 11, from 9am to 5pm.

Tinian: Dept. of Commerce Bldg. (by Municipal Baseball Field in San Jose) – Today through Thursday, Oct. 11, from 8am to 4pm.

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.

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 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.

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.

For more information or media inquiries, contact Nadine Deleon Guerrero, HSEM External Affairs Officer at ncdlg@cnmihsem.gov.mp. (PR)