John Hirsh, American Red Cross NMI Chapter executive director.
JOHN Hirsh, American Red Cross NMI Chapter executive director, said six of their generators have been deployed to various shelters around the island.
Hirsh was present at the Multi-Agency Coordinating Group meeting on Monday, Oct. 9 at the CNMI’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
He told reporters that ARC is playing a “supportive” role to the Public School System, which operates typhoon shelters.
He said ARC’s emergency programs will take effect, if needed, following an all-clear declaration in the Marianas.
ARC will then begin distributing emergency supplies, conduct damage assessments, and work with families, Hirsh said.
“The Red Cross will be there to help every single person on the island who’s impacted by the storm,” he added.
“This is a serious storm,” he said. He advised island residents to prepare their homes, fuel their vehicles and generators, clean loose debris around homes, and maintain steady food and water supplies.
“When the storm is 12-24 hours away, anything could happen…we really encourage everyone in the community to prepare,” he said.
On Guam, Hirsh said there is a team of 10 ARC national disaster responders on standby and ready to respond.
