Governor seeks pre-landfall disaster declaration

GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Monday said the administration is mobilizing local and federal assets to support Rota, which is expected to be severely affected by Typhoon Mawar.

“Our concern is really Rota…Rota is going to experience the brunt of this storm,” the governor said in a media briefing at the Emergency Operations Center on Capital Hill.

CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Special Assistant Franklin Babauta added that everyone in the Commonwealth will be affected by the typhoon and should adequately prepare. 

“[Saipan and Tinian] are still within the bubble of wind strength,” he noted.

Palacios said his administration has already requested, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a pre-landfall disaster declaration from President Joe Biden.

Brian Beck, the integration team lead for FEMA, said the declaration will allow the agency to “mobilize resources and assist and support the CNMI and Guam without any cost to either of these islands.”

Beck told the media that FEMA agents are on standby on Guam in anticipation of the need for emergency support functions, and that more of them are coming to Saipan in the next few days.

Babauta said a large generator required for the Rota Health Center was on Saipan “awaiting movement.”

He said moving the generator through the Port of Rota is a “challenge” due to its narrowness.

But Palacios added that the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency office on Rota has a smaller generator that will be utilized in the meantime, should the need arise. 

Mawar continues approach

According to the National Weather Service, as of 7 p.m. Monday, Typhoon Mawar was moving north-northwest toward the Marianas.

A typhoon warning was in effect for Guam and Rota. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more were expected within 24 hours, with the onset of typhoon force winds forecast for Wednesday morning.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Saipan and Tinian. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more were expected Tuesday evening. A typhoon watch remained in effect for Saipan and Tinian. Typhoon force winds are possible if the westward turn of Mawar is delayed.

As of 10 p.m. Monday, Mawar was about 275 miles southeast of Guam; about 305 miles south-southeast of Rota; about 355 miles south-southeast of Tinian; and about 360 miles south-southeast of Saipan.

Mawar was moving north-northwest at 7 mph. It was expected to maintain this general course and speed over the next 24 hours. The latest track forecast shows a westward bend in the vicinity of the Marianas with passage near or over Guam.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to 105 mph. Mawar is forecast to intensify through Tuesday. The latest forecast guidance shows a category 3 typhoon may pass near or over Guam Wednesday.

Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 40 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 145 miles.

Shelters activated

The governor’s office said shelters had been activated and were opened at 4 p.m. Monday, May 22, 2023. Residents who need shelter assistance are asked to use the shelters closest to their homes. Residents are expected to bring their own bedding, food, and drinks to the shelter. No pets are permitted in the shelter unless the pet is a certified service animal. An ID should be presented upon entry. The designated shelters are:

Marianas High School (Cafeteria)

Koblerville Elementary School (Cafeteria)

Kagman High School (Cafeteria)

Tinian: Tinian Elementary School (Cafeteria)

Rota: Sinapalo Office on Aging

Rota: Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School

For Saipan, the Office on Aging will be open to accommodate persons with disabilities and those with medical needs. Services under these categories include individuals who are wheelchair bound, who need oxygen, and for those with ailments that do not need to be admitted at the hospital.

For Tinian, the Tinian Aging Center is open only for persons with disabilities or the elderly. For individuals requiring medical attention, the Tinian Health Center is open.

For Rota, the Office on Aging in Sinapalo is the designated shelter for persons with disabilities and the elderly. For individuals requiring medical attention, the Rota Health Center is open.

Transportation to shelters

Transport services to typhoon shelters for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota can be accessed by contacting the following telephone numbers:

Saipan

EOC State Warning Point: (670) 237-8000 (Primary Number)

Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA): One-Call/One-Click Transportation Information Resource Center: (670) 236-2682

Tinian

Public School System-Tinian Elementary School Tinian: (670) 783-8962 or (670) 433-9250 (Primary)

Tinian Municipality Operations Center: (670) 433-1800 or (670) 433-1803 (Secondary)

Rota

Rota Mayor’s Office: (670) 532-9451/2 (Primary Number)

Rota Mayor’s Office Deputy Incident Commander: (670) 286-6618 (Secondary Number)

Schools

PSS has announced that its classes have been canceled on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23 until further notice. The continuation or cancellation of classes for other educational institutions will be announced by the respective institutions.

Public health centers

Because of the declaration of Typhoon Condition II for Rota, Rota Health Center will be closed. Patients will be contacted to reschedule appointments that are affected by these closures. 

The RHC Emergency Room on Rota remains open despite weather conditions.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. will provide shelter for pregnant women who are at least 36 weeks pregnant or at risk for pre-term labor during the typhoon. Please contact (670) 234-8950 for more information. Residents of Tinian and Rota can report to the Tinian and Rota Health Centers respectively. 

CHCC clinics and outpatient services on Saipan and Tinian are operating regularly until conditions escalate to Typhoon Condition I or II:

Children’s Clinic

Dental Clinic

Dialysis Center

Family Care Clinic

HIV/STD and TB Program

Immunization Clinic

Koblerville Covid-19 Community Center

Mobile Clinic

Oncology Center

Outpatient Pharmacy

Tinian Health Center

WIC Clinic

Women’s Clinic

Community Guidance Center

Transitional Living Center

Suicide Prevention Program

Wellness Clinic

System of Care

Treatment and Recovery Clinic

CHCC recommends that all residents make sure they have enough of their prescription medications to last at least one week. This is especially important for people with diabetes, hypertension, or uncontrolled asthma. Store your medications in a waterproof container and take them with you to wherever you are sheltering from the storm.

CUC advisory

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is recommending customers to fill water tanks and extra vessels, such as bathtubs, five-gallon buckets, etc.

For Rota: during heavy rain events, CUC will shut off the main cave water source to avoid elevated turbidity level in the water system. While water turbidity levels are within acceptable range at this time, the current weather forecast due to the approaching storm may result in the need for an emergency water service interruption. Alternative sources will be activated. Therefore, customers on high elevation will be experiencing low water pressure to no water.

24-hour customer service phone lines

CUC would also like to remind the public of the importance of keeping the 24-hour customer service phone lines open for emergencies. Our priority is to ensure that the phone lines remain readily available for emergency utility situations where immediate assistance is required, such as downed power lines, burning or sparking transformers, major water leaks, and/or sewer overflows.

If and when a storm or typhoon becomes unsafe to send our operators into the field to handle emergencies, we kindly request that you report any hazards and maintain a safe distance until help becomes available.

For updates on electrical and water outages, contact the automated CUC Hotline at (670) 236-4333.

For more information, contact CUC Customer Service (670) 664-4282 or monitor its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CommonwealthUtilitiesCorporation/).