Saipan, Tinian included in Public Assistance categories

On Aug. 18, 2015, the Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as a result of damage that occurred Aug. 1-3 by Typhoon Soudelor was amended to include the islands of Saipan and Tinian for Public Assistance (Categories C-G).

Public Assistance is the assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. The islands of Saipan and Tinian are included for Public Assistance Categories C-G, which are as follows: Category C: Roads and Bridges, Category D: Water Control Facilities, Category E: Public Buildings and Equipment, Category F: Utilities, Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items.

The Islands of Rota, Saipan, and Tinian were also included for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

The government of CNMI agencies and certain private nonprofit agencies that may be eligible for federal and commonwealth disaster assistance must submit Request for Public Assistance forms to CNMI Homeland Security. The deadline for RPAs for original categories A-B is Sept. 4, 2015. The deadline for RPAs for categories C-G is Sept. 18, 2015.

The Public Assistance Program provides grants to Commonwealth governments and certain private non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters.

PA funds are available to eligible applicants as part of the federal disaster declaration of Aug. 5, 2015, for the typhoon that occurred Aug. 1-3, 2015 in CNMI.

The primary goal of the Public Assistance program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and CNMI, is to provide reimbursement for eligible expenses for emergency response as well as the repair and replacement of damaged public facilities.

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses successful applicants for 75 percent of their eligible expenses, while the other 25 percent is the non-federal share. The CNMI government pays 75 percent of the non-federal share of eligible costs incurred by Commonwealth agencies and special districts with local agencies picking up the remaining 25 percent.

Commonwealth agencies and certain private nonprofits are responsible for the entire non-federal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the territory, with CNMI being the grantee, which then makes disbursements to sub-grantees, the local jurisdictions and organizations.

For forms and more information on the PA program, contact CNMI Public Affairs Officer, Ivan Blanco at 670-237-8040.

The RPA form can be submitted via email to: Nerissa Benavente at Nerissa.cip@gmail.com

Sept. 4, 2015, is the deadline to submit RPAs for Categories A-B. Sept. 17, 2015 is the deadline to submit RPAs for Categories C-G. (FEMA)

Public Assistance Program reminder
For CNMI government agencies and private non-profits planning to submit Request for Public Assistance forms, the deadline is Sept. 4, 2015. For forms and more information on the PA program, contact CNMI Public Affairs Officer Ivan Blanco at (670) 237-8040. RPA forms should be submitted via email to Nerissa Benaven-te at nerissa.cip@gmail.com. Agencies should not go to the Emergency Operations Center to submit forms.