All four states suffered severe damage from the recent tidal surges caused by two circulation weather systems and high tides caused by the perigee of the moon during the week of Dec. 8-12.
Other Pacific countries affected by this Pacific tidal surge were Solomon Islands, PNG, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.
The task force consisted of Andrew Yatilman, director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management; Oleen Paul, hazard mitigation officer with EEM; members of the Department of Justice; and the secretaries of the Departments of Resources and Development and Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure.
Mori also invited members of FSM Congress to join the meeting.
During the meeting, Sens. Moses Nelson and Peter Sitan confirmed the seriousness of the damage in Chuuk and agreed with a need for a declaration of a state of emergency.
As reports come in from the low lying outer islands, mostly by shortwave radios, the Office of Environment and Emergency Management is getting a better picture of the state of emergency.
The office referenced a video shot in Kosrae that showed the actual event happening, with waves crashing on the island and photos from the outer islands of Chuuk and Yap showing the intrusion of saltwater into taro patches and agriculture crops.
Mori was on the MS Voyager for his official state visit to the northwest islands of Chuuk during this time and was witness to the large tides and surges on the reefs and islands.
Although he was not briefed on the reasons for the occurrence, he took pictures to document the force of the tides and the damages caused by them.
Once all the states have declared a state of emergency, Mori can declare a national state of emergency and react with immediate relief and assessment efforts.
Food and fresh water are the immediate needs of the people of the outer islands in Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei.
Airplanes and ships will be sent to these islands to provide this relief and assessment teams will carry out inspections to assess the effects of the tidal surges and make plans for further recovery needs.
Pohnpei has already provided for fuel and provisions for the MS Voyager to make an emergency run to the southern islands of Pohnpei, namely Sapwuahfik, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi and bring relief supplies on Jan. 5, 2009.
The task force, led by Director Yatilman of EEM, is meeting to plan relief and assessment efforts in all of the states, and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to also play a part in these relief efforts.
Once Mori declares a state of emergency for the nation, he is given the authority to pool the resources of the national government and allocate them as he deems necessary to address the threats posed to the people.
He has received an update from the finance department on the status of revenue available and unappropriated in the general fund that can be used to help support the relief and administrative costs, which are estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
