Typhoon Condition I for Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has upgraded storm conditions to Typhoon Condition I for the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

That means destructive winds of 74 miles per hour or more are expected within the next 12 hours or are occurring.

As of 4am today, the center of Typhoon Mangkhut was located near 14.7 degrees north latitude and 149.1 east longitude, placing Typhoon Mangkhut about 225 miles east of Saipan; about 235 miles east of Tinian; about 265 miles east of Rota and about 295 miles southeast of Alamagan and about 305 miles east-northeast of Guam.

Typhoon Mangkhut continues to move westward at 21 mph (33.78 kilometers per hour), packing sustained winds of 90 mph (144.841 kkph).

Mangkhut is expected to continue on this westerly course through Tuesday, taking Mangkhut through the Mariana Islands later today.

Expected wind conditions for Monday

Onset of 39 mph winds:

Saipan: 10am

Tinian: 11 am

Rota: 1pm

Onset of sustained 58 mph winds:

Saipan: 2pm

Tinian: 2pm

Rota: 4pm

Onset of 74mph winds:

Saipan: 5pm

Tinian: 5pm

Rota: 6pm

Remain vigilant. Stay indoors.

Although weather conditions appear to be clear, Homeland Security and Emergency Management advises the community to remain vigilant as storm force winds are expected to worsen and become destructive over the next 12 hours. At this time, belongings and family members should already be secure as you get ready to shelter in place indoors.

If alternative shelter needs are required by you or your family, you should already be in a shelter or making arrangements to move into one. If your home is a secure, hardened structure, windows should already be boarded up or shutters secured shut.

If you do not need to be on public roadways, stay indoors to avoid risky road conditions including the possibility of flying debris and/or hydroplaning while operating a vehicle. Unless shelter is being sought or an emergency requires you to be on public roadways, remain indoors until an “All Clear” has been issued.

Contact the CNMI Emergency Operations Center’s State Warning Point at 237-8000 to find out where you can receive information regarding the nearest available shelter.

Shelter information

Tanapag Middle School is nearing its maximum capacity.

The following shelters remain open and are able to accept incoming shelterees:

-Kagman High School

-Dandan Middle School

-San Vicente Elementary School

-Saipan Aging Center

-Tinian Elementary School

-Rita H. Inos Junior-Senior High School, Rota

-Rota Aging Center

Secondary shelters are on standby, if additional shelters are needed. Shelterees requiring medical equipment and/or expectant mothers should instead seek shelter at CHCC.

Sheltering at CHCC

Shelter at the Commonwealth Health Center was activated at 8pm last night, Sept. 9, 2018. There will be no social admission due limited hospital capacity.

Shelter is only available to pregnant mothers who are at least 32 weeks pregnant or more or experiencing pre-term labor.

Expectant mothers are asked to check into Labor and Deliver ward where they will be assessed for either admission or given the option to shelter on-site and directed to a designated area.

If you are stable and not requiring hospitalization, please stay safe at home or at an available shelter closest to you. If you are using medical equipment that requires electricity (i.e., oxygen concentrators), visit the nearest available community shelter to you.

If you have a life-threatening injury or illness, please visit the emergency room immediately.

Those who are experiencing early labor are encouraged to go to the Commonwealth Health Center immediately.

-If you plan to come to CHC, make sure to bring your identification information, a pillow, blanket, extra clothing, and other essential supplies including food and hydration.

-Individuals should make sure their prescription medications and medical supplies can last them for at least three days. This is especially important for patients with diabetes, hypertension or uncontrolled asthma.

All expectant mothers are asked to enjoy a complete meal before they check into the hospital.  All pregnant mothers who need to come to CHCC are asked to bring the following for their comfort and convenience:

-ID and insurance cards

-Drinking water and snacks that do not need refrigeration or heating

-Any needed medications

-Personal toiletries (soap, toothbrush, lotions, etc.)

-Change of clothing

-Sets of newborn clothing

-Entertainment i.e. games, cards, movies, headphones, books, etc. to help pass time

-Personal pillows and blankets for additional comfort

Please contact the Nursing supervisor on duty at 234-8950 for more instructions or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cnmichcc/ .

Shelter transportation

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority continues to be on standby to provide shuttle services to residents requiring transportation to the nearest available facility including the servicing of individuals with access and functional needs. In the event the closest facility has reached its max capacity, an alternative route to a different location will be assigned.

Due to limited resources, only routes of direct home-to-shelter transport will be accommodated. Routes outside of home-to-shelter transport will not be accommodated.

Contact the CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 for transport scheduling. Keep in mind these services may cease once Typhoon Condition I has been declared, and road conditions have been deemed unsafe.

As a word of precaution, the best way to avoid personal injury is to seek shelter in concrete structures. Do not wait until the onset of destructive winds to seek shelter.

Multiagency updates

Mobil gas stations in Kagman, Garapan and Middle Road have ceased operations and are unavailable for refueling.

All non-critical government operations have been cancelled for Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

The Public School System has cancelled classes for Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

Northern Marianas College has announced that its campuses on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian will be closed on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, and classes scheduled for this day have been cancelled. All student activities and events scheduled for this week will also be postponed until further notice. Additional updates will be announced through the NMC website at www.marianas.edu and through NMC social media platforms.

All First Hawaiian Bank branches on Guam and Saipan are closed today. The branches will reopen once it has been deemed safe to do so. FHB’s Guam branches are in Dededo, Maite, and Tamuning. The Saipan branches are in Gualo Rai and Oleai.

Bank of Hawaii has also closed all branch operations in Guam and on Saipan today.

Call center operations, based in Kapolei, Oahu, remain open to assist customers. Online and mobile banking services will continue to operate unless power interruptions are experienced. Bank of Hawaii will also place public updates on all of its social media platforms (Facebook : www.facebook.com/bankofhawaii, Instagram: www.instagram.com/bankofhawaii and Twitter: www.twitter.com/bankofhawaii), as well as its website: www.boh.com.

The Captain of the Port has placed the Port of Saipan into Zulu status as of 12:19Aam, Monday morning.

Star Marianas has relocated its aircraft to the island of Guam for safekeeping, suspending services until further notice.

At Saipan International Airport, United Airlines has cancelled all flights scheduled to depart and arrive on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. All flights for Monday, Sept. 10, 2018 are expected to resume as scheduled.

According to a CNMI Division of Customs post on its Facebook wall, all flights on Saipan are cancelled this afternoon.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. transported additional supplies to the Rota Healthcare Center yesterday in preparation for the possibility of an influx of population into the facility pre- and/or post-storm. Load capacity of generators on all islands have been tested and have been deemed to be in operable conditions.

Stay informed

Stay tuned to the CNMI Office of the Governor and/or CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook pages for the latest official updates on partner agencies and government operational statuses.

For more information regarding weather conditions, please contact the CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or visit our Facebook Page @cnmieocswp for the latest weather bulletins and advisories.

Follow us on social media

HSEM urges the community to follow the following social media platforms to get the latest weather updates and information:

-CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnmieocswp/

-CNMI Office of the Governor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNMIGov/

-Governor Ralph DLG. Torres Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ralphdlg.torres/

-CNMI Joint Information Center: https://www.facebook.com/JICNMI/

-NWS website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/

– NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/ (PR)