Red Cross aids over 340 families

The American Red Cross-NMI Chapter provided humanitarian relief to over 300 families on Rota following Typhoon Mangkhut.

The island bore the brunt of Typhoon Mangkhut two weeks ago and is still on the way to full recovery.

According to John Hirsh, executive director of the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, the chapter and its partner agencies were able to provide humanitarian relief to 340 families whose homes sustained both major and minor damage after Typhoon Mangkhut.

As of yesterday, Hirsh said that 60 families had major damage to their homes. All 60 have received relief goods including food, water, cleaning supplies, and more. They were also provided tents that would serve as temporary shelters until their homes are restored.

A total of 280 families on Rota experienced minor damage. An example of a minor damage would be if a home’s roof is blown away during the typhoon, Hirsh said.

These 280 families also received relief goods like food, water, cleaning supplies, and were provided tents that are being used as temporary shelters.

About 50 percent of homes on Rota sustained some kind of damage from Typhoon Mangkhut, Hirsh said.

The American Red Cross is now transitioning into long-term recovery. Long-term recovery is considered the rebuilding phase of recovery.

Hirsh said the long-term recovery phase tends to be the hardest and longest part of recovery because in a place as remote as Rota, resources needed to rebuild major home damage is scarce.

The chapter is looking at different ways and means of going about the long-term recovery phase.

According to Hirsh, the chapter is looking at teaming up with organizations like Karidat Social Services and even the federal and local administration to get resources to Rota to begin long-term recovery.

The Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts, or CARE, is also looking at aiding Rota like they did for Saipan following Typhoon Soudelor in August 2015.

Hirsh, who is also part of CARE, said the group talk about it this week.

Hirsh said the major declaration request that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres submitted to the White House last week would significantly boost the island’s long-term recovery effort if President Donald Trump approves it.

The declaration would open opportunities for resources, funding, and manpower if approved.

As of yesterday, the people of Rota are just waiting for Trump’s approval of the declaration so that long-term recovery can begin, said Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig.

He said that Rota is almost completely re-energized at 98 percent and water has been up 100 percent.