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‘USPS working with FEMA to ensure delivery of checks’
The U.S. Postal Service is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that CNMI residents receive their disaster assistance checks following a recent mishap with addresses.
In light of the recent disaster brought by Super Typhoon Yutu, FEMA offered immediate financial assistance to eligible typhoon victims worth $500.
Due to misunderstandings with CNMI addresses and the absence of a home numbering system in the CNMI, some checks failed to make it to intended recipients.
According to an email from U.S Postal Service strategic communications specialist Duke Gonzales, despite the unanticipated misunderstanding, the USPS is working closely with FEMA to ensure that checks make it to their respective typhoon victim.
“We are working closely with FEMA to facilitate the delivery of their assistance checks to Saipan residents,” he said.
“We understand how important these checks are to our customers and will make every effort to ensure their timely and accurate delivery,” he added.
Unverified reports stated that the USPS in the CNMI has been returning FEMA checks because they were addressed to lot numbers and home mail delivery system is not used on Saipan or Tinian.
In an email from FEMA public information officer Paul Corah, he confirmed that checks were being sent back to the agency. “We ran into a small problem. Checks are being returned to FEMA,” he said.
Paul said that FEMA has been working to mail the checks to P.O. boxes.
“We are sending the checks to the P.O. boxes the survivors gave FEMA. These P.O. boxes have to be up to date, with fees paid so survivors can get their money. We ask if any survivors are expecting a check that has not arrived to contact FEMA right away,” he said.
Individuals who are still waiting on their disaster assistance checks are encouraged to visit the nearest Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA representatives or call the FEMA hotline.
