BREAKING NEWS: Obama declares CNMI under state of disaster

Obama declares CNMI under state of disaster

The White House has declared that the CNMI is under “state of disaster and significant emergency,” a day after CNMI acting governor Ralph DLG. Torres sent a formal request to the Obama administration for an expedited major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth.
Torres early today received a call from FEMA Region IX on the White House declaration.

Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan) said the acting governor announced to legislators this morning “the good news.”

“President Obama accepted the CNMI Declaration of Disaster; support is on the way. Take pix and inventory of your damage and document before repairing or rebuilding,” he said.

Earlier, Torres stressed that the $20 million estimated damage brought about by Typhoon Soudelor when it wrought havoc on Saipan, Tinian, and the Northern Islands last Sunday is based on “a very preliminary estimate.”

The estimated damage from one of the strongest typhoons in 2015 was part of Torres’ formal request to the Obama administration for an expedited major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, meanwhile, said he has received notice from FEMA that President Obama signed the major disaster declaration for the Northern Mariana Islands today.

According to Sablan, the President’s action releases federal funds to help meet immediate emergency needs resulting from Typhoon Soudelor.

The Commonwealth will also now be eligible for federal funding to assist with debris removal, to provide aid to individuals in need, to help rebuild power, water and other public infrastructure, and for hazard mitigation projects to harden public facilities on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.

“We are all very grateful to the President for making the decision to come to our assistance,” Sablan said. “We have a long road to recovery from the devastation of this storm, but we now know that our federal government is going to provide substantial help. And that will make recovery faster.”

Sablan also thanked the many federal officials in Congress and in the Obama administration who worked with him to make sure that the Commonwealth’s request for federal assistance was responded to as quickly as possible.

“As soon as the storm hit on Sunday, we let the White House know that a request for a disaster declaration was likely,” Sablan said. “And throughout the week we have been updating the people in the federal government who would be involved in advising the President on the proper response.

“Then, when acting governor Torres submitted his request for the declaration on Tuesday, federal officials were prepared and able to act quickly.”

There is a wide range of response times after typhoon events.

The last Presidential disaster declaration for the Northern Marianas, following Typhoon Nabi in 2005, was signed two months after the storm.

Sablan also reported that he had learned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched a barge from Guam with 11 electric generators for Saipan in response to a request from the acting governor.

The generators, due to arrive on Saturday, are expected to help get the island water system back into operation.

“FEMA has also loaded the barge with water, meals, and emergency shelter supplies,” Sablan said. “And there are three forklifts on board. The Commonwealth has not officially requested those items, but they will be here, if needed.”

Also en route to Saipan is the USS Ashland, which will be used to transport cargo in support of recovery efforts.