Roof installations completed 4 months after Yutu

The final nail on the 546th roof was drilled into place yesterday, signifying the completion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary roofing program in the Commonwealth, four months following the destruction of Super Typhoon Yutu.

Members of the Torres administration, members of the CNMI community, and servicemen under the U.S Department of Defense came together to complete the construction of the final temporary roof under the Temporary Emergency Tent and Roofing Installation Support program led by FEMA.

Everyone in attendance convoyed from the Koblerville fire station to the home of Ana Aldan in Koblerville, the owner of the final temporary roofing program home.

Aldan was overjoyed to see the leaders of the community as they helped drill into place the final nail.

According to Aldan, she and her family appreciate the hard work the servicemen put into providing temporary shelters and roofs over those who were affected by Super Typhoon Yutu.

“I’m so thankful that you guys are here to help us. The second it was done, we moved in. It was very hard when it was raining in the morning and you would go inside the house, you’d be stepping in puddles inside the house. We’re so happy that we can now sleep, cook, and eat in the house, instead of trying to find a place to eat because we can’t eat in our tents because of rats, so we’re glad we have a roof now,” she said.

A few of the men who were tasked to rebuild Aldan’s home said that she was one of the many who showed them amazing hospitality as they rebuilt her home.

The task that was initially scheduled to be completed in two to three days was completed in one.

Aldan’s home was only one of the 362 homes on Saipan that were provided temporary roofs.

Aside from the 564 roofs installed on Saipan and Tinian, the DOD also provided relief through the distribution of relief goods, water, debris clean up, and tent installations, according to Rear Ad. Shoshana Chatfield, who leads the Joint Region Marianas as its commander and who also led the DOD mission.

“We did what we could to help, to respond, and to raise the spirits of those we encountered.

“…13,500 cubic yards of debris was removed, over 1,500 tents were set up between Saipan and Tinian. Some of these numbers are just so staggering. …It was an incredible effort,” she said.

Chatfield expressed her appreciation to the deployed forces who fulfilled the mission they were tasked to complete in the CNMI.

“Your mission was to focus on temporary shelters…and the teams completed more than 500 temporary roofs, 362 of them on Saipan. The forces in the region, we stand ready to provide our support and…to secure the safety of the people of the Commonwealth. We are so proud to be a part of #MarianasStrong,” she said.