THE CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency followed Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang to Rota on Saturday to assess the situation on the island after Super Typhoon Mawar.
A few hours after the governor and lt. governor flew to Rota Saturday morning, Special Assistant for HSEM Franklin Babauta and FEMA Integration Team Lead Brian Beck arrived at the Saipan commuter terminal around noon, for their own flight.
Also traveling with them were Office of Grants Management Administrator Epiphanio E. Cabrera and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Bureau of Environmental Health and Disease Prevention health inspectors Kary John Ramos and Max Keller.
They brought with them some supplies for those who were affected by the typhoon.
In an interview before their departure, Babauta said they were going to Rota to do a quick assessment and meet with the island’s leaders. He said they wanted to make sure that they were coordinating with local partners in moving forward.
Beck said they wanted to see “what the situation really is on the island.”
In a statement on Saturday, the Office of the Governor said Gov. Palacios and Lt. Gov. Apatang were joined by Sen. Paul Manglona, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, Rep. Julie Ogo, Rota Municipal Council Chairman Jim Michael Atalig and Municipal Council Secretary Jonovan Lizama, the resident directors of the various agencies on Rota, the CNMI Public Assistance Office, representatives from the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, the Public School System, and other agencies.
Special Assistant for CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Franklin Babauta, second left, Federal Emergency Management Agency Integration Team Lead Brian Beck, center, Office of Grants Management Administrator Epiphanio Cabrera, left, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.-Bureau of Environmental Health and Disease Prevention health inspectors Kary John Ramos and Max Keller pose for a photo at the commuter terminal on Saipan Saturday.
