The seven residents of Pagan and Alamagan in the Northern Islands are safe and secure even as Tropical Storm Maliksi intensified in the last two days.
Francisco L. Kaipat, community worker at the Northern Islands Mayor's Office, said yesterday that they communicated with the residents of both islands via radio frequency yesterday and last Monday.
Of the seven residents, five stay on Pagan while the other two live on Alamagan, he said.
Kaipat said they get in touch with these residents through their weekly scheduled radio conference every Monday and Thursday.
During days when there is a weather disturbance, however, Kaipat disclosed that they contact the Northern Islands population more frequently to check on their safety.
Kaipat noted, though, that the residents experience a hard time communicating via radio since the gadget uses batteries that are charged using solar panels.
“If there's no sun, they can't charge the battery,” he added.
Kaipat said they made contact with the Northern Islands residents on Monday to inform them about the latest weather bulletin from the Emergency Management Office.
Based on their latest communication with these residents, they were already experiencing strong winds and high surf due to Tropical Storm Maliksi, he said.
But Kaipat assured that all the residents are out of harm's way. “They're pretty much secured because they prepared themselves [on Monday] when we contacted them that there's a disturbance.”
He said the Pagan residents have a lot of Japanese bunkers they can use as shelter while those from Alamagan also have their own semi-concrete shelter built by former mayors.
“During this administration, we have plans of making better and tougher typhoon shelters for the Northern Islands residents,” said Kaipat.
He stressed that the residents have enough supplies to last them in this kind of weather disturbance.
Kaipat said these residents already are informed that they can contact the Northern Islands Mayors Office should there be any changes in weather activities in the two islands.
Since their office only operates from Monday to Friday, Kaipat said the residents usually get in touch with the EMO to receive the latest weather bulletin during weekends.
“We hope the people up there are safe,” he added.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
