NMC takes a pounding; some 18 buildings damaged

The Northern Marianas College sustained significant damage when Typhoon Soudelor hit over three weeks ago, losing the use of several buildings to destructive winds and rain.

College deans and staff have pooled together to clean up the mess left over by the storm in preparation for Sep. 28, the targeted date for the start of the fall semester, says college president Dr. Sharon Hart.

NMC met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday, effectively beginning the 60-day time period where they can submit a request for public infrastructure assistance from the federal agency.

Typhoon Soudelor left several of NMC’s buildings inoperable. One of these buildings, or “Building H,” is seen here with its roof torn off a day after the storm hit. The building houses the college’s snack bar. (Contributed Photo)

Hart told Saipan Tribune that they have no estimate yet on the cost of damage to their campus. This will be determined once a FEMA on-site project specialist arrives.

She calls damage to the college “significant.”

Of some 18 buildings that sustained damage from the storm, about four are “inoperable,” according to Hart. This includes the college gym, which sustained damage to its roof and floor.

The lab rooms for the college’s research and extension services also lost its roof and suffered structural damage.

Hart says most of the damage, though, occurred in buildings for support services. Most classrooms were spared.

“The vast majority of all our classrooms have staved damage,” she said.

Hart said college deans and staff have been working tirelessly night and day and on weekends to get the college back on its feet.

She thanked John Guerrero, director of NMC facilities, and other staff for their effort.

She said they’ve cut the time to begin class again almost “in half” because of the amount of effort they have put in.

“We will be definitely be operable and ready by Sep. 28,” Hart told Saipan Tribune.

Damage

In a meeting with FEMA, the college provided a draft damage assessment report for the campus.

Hart said they will have to do more structural analysis, and will have to solve the mold that is starting to appear on a lot of their walls as many rooms have lost air-conditioning and are exposed to the rain and weather.

Hart said they would be doing individual or different projects for each damaged building—not the entire campus.

The college, for example, will have to determine the exact age of the damaged buildings. The college was reportedly built around 1955 as a semi-concrete hospital.

Hart said Building E—or the college’s bookstore—sustained “significant roof damage.” Its electrical also needs to be checked.

Building F and G—the college’s research and extension labs—have “extremely significant” roof and structural damage. They are inoperable. The college believes they are damaged beyond use.

Hart said they learned from FEMA that if a building is more than 50 percent significantly damaged, then they may have to look at replacement, adding that these are some issues the college will explore with FEMA’s project specialist.

Building D—which held some classrooms—had roof damage.

Building H, which houses the college’s snack bar, is inoperable and severely damaged beyond use.

Building I—which held some student services offices—sustained roof and water damage.

Building J—the college’s student center—sustained roof damage.

The business department offices in Building J also had water damage.

NMC’s Building K took some roof damage. The college’s Building L—which held college offices and a warehouse—took roof damage. Building M also sustained minor roof damage.

Building N had primarily water leaks.

Building O—which holds the college library and archives—lost its central air-conditioning system. Building P—which holds Hart’s office and the administration offices—also lost its central air-conditioning.

Building R took some roof and structural damage. It sustained damage beyond use and will be inoperable.

Building T—which held Adult Education classes—took some roof damage.

Building V and W—classrooms and labs for V—had water damage.

Building W—the computer lab—had water damage.

The NMC gym suffered major roof and floor damage, making it inoperable.

Three college extension services vehicles were also significantly damaged by the storm.

Moving forward

Hart said less-than-half a dozen buildings weren’t significantly impacted by Typhoon Soudelor—but even in those buildings, they are finding “significant rodent and pest infestation.”

She noted that they are working hard to make the college operable.

When asked about the typhoon’s possible impact on enrollment numbers, Hart said it was still the “perfect time” for people to come together and consider college.

The island has seen small businesses close doors as an islandwide power outage persists since the typhoon hit weeks ago.

Noting that 90 percent of those who do enroll at NMC are qualified for financial aid, Hart said they are planning concerted efforts to reach out to villages.

“…So people might be able to ultimately get that education going down the road that will help them with their career, and continue on with their lives,” Hart said.