Further assistance for eligible homeowners

Eligible homeowners whose houses suffered significant damage or were totally destroyed during Super Typhoon Yutu and lack home insurance would receive two types of assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA public information officer Victor Inge told Saipan Tribune that they continue to lead the CNMI’s recovery efforts and the ongoing partial federal government shutdown having no direct effect with their work in the Commonwealth.

“We’re still actively engaged in the recovery efforts. We’re one team, in one fight. We had already dispersed over $19 million in disaster grants, both for individuals and entire households. These are funds to help disaster survivors for assistance and meet their other needs,” said Inge.

He said that FEMA could provide assistance to all who are eligible to avail the program in two areas: repairs and rebuild.

“We have provided assistance to disaster survivors that have significant impacts to their homes. They may be eligible for permanent construction.

“There are two areas where [FEMA] can help. The first one is for permanent repairs while the other one is for homes that are no longer feasible to be repaired,” said Inge, who added that the remaining structure of totally destroyed homes would be torn down before building a new structure.

He said that they would be working in having the new homes more resilient. “Homes that would be able to withstand super typhoons like Yutu. So, next time a storm as strong like Yutu hits the CNMI, the infrastructure and homes here are more resilient.”

A team of engineers from Dewberry Engineering, FEMA’s contracted inspectors, will conduct the assessment of all the houses owned by those eligible to avail of assistance. “Dewberry engineers will check the house’s structure, to see of what can be done.”

“They will determine if the house can still be repaired or a new one, a home that is typhoon-resilient, will be built. We plan this to be a construction program here for eligible homeowners,” said Inge.

In other news, the U.S. Small Business Administration had already approved a total of 1,036 home and business loans both for Typhoon Mangkhut and Yutu that totaled $62,247,000. There are 909 home loans approved for Yutu and 71 business/economic injury disaster loans while

Mangkhut had 51 and five each.

SBA Office of Disaster Assistance PIO Cynthia Cowell said their personnel would remain on Saipan until further notice. “I don’t know if we will be here after much after the Jan. 27, deadline.”