By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang called on all CNMI residents to prepare for Super Typhoon Bavi. As of Saturday, the storm was expected to make its closest approach to the Mariana Islands on Sunday, July 5.
“There is still time to prepare,” Apatang said in press briefing on Saturday morning. He said he knew residents had been filling their gas tanks, shopping for supplies and stocking up on water since Friday.
“Let’s continue to prepare,” the governor said.
“Don’t wait until the last minute so you don’t have to be running around during the typhoon. We don’t want to risk anybody’s life,” he said, urging everyone in the community to plan ahead.
Apatang also strongly urged those who need to go to a shelter to contact the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority so a bus can transport them as soon as possible.
“Please prepare yourself and your family. If needed, go to the shelter right now. This is the time to do it. Get somebody to help bring you where you are supposed to be,” the governor said.
He also urged residents to stock up on food and water and complete their preparations.
“We can survive. We did it before, and we can do it again,” he said.
Special Assistant for Homeland Security and Emergency Management/Emergency Operations Center Clemente Bermudes said officials began moving vulnerable residents, including older adults and people with disabilities, to shelters on Friday.
“We prioritized them yesterday, and they started moving them to the shelters. We got the shelters activated,” he said.
Bermudes also urged the public to prepare.
“This is a real super typhoon that is coming to us, and we really have to prepare. Please follow the directions and guidance issued by the Joint Information Center,” he said.
As of Saturday, Bermudes said Bavi was approaching the Marianas from the east while tracking generally west-northwest. Depending on its track, the center could pass between Tinian and Rota. Regardless of the exact path, he said, Saipan is expected to experience dangerous tropical storm conditions and potentially destructive winds.
“The storm is strengthening significantly,” he said.
Bermudes also noted that Bavi had slowed its forward movement, drawing comparisons to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which also moved slowly through the region.
“Hopefully, it will move away from the Marianas more quickly,” he said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
