Retailers warned vs price gouging

Some retailers have reportedly increased the prices of their commodities, prompting the Attorney General’s Office to warn these businesses that they face possible legal action.

Elements of the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit have been going out since Tuesday to check on the retail prices of certain commodities, such as water, batteries, flashlight, candles, rice, matches, film, and chicken.

While no price adjustment has been noted so far on these items on Saipan, CNMI consumer counsel Brian Caldwell said at least one hardware store on Tinian has raised the price of tin, which is used for roofing houses.

“The AGO has begun serving retailers on the islands with Cease & Desist Notices, placing retailers on notice of the unfair practice of raising their prices based upon the devastating effects of Typhoon Chaba,” the AGO said in a media release.

The AGO advised these retailers to urgently roll back prices to pre-typhoon levels.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta also appealed to businesses not to engage in price gouging. “This is not the time for businesses to take advantage.”

According to the AGO, price gouging occurs when a business increases the price of goods “solely on the basis of a shortage of supply caused by natural disaster or any other emergency situation.”

The AGO warned that the CNMI’s Consumer Protection Act provides for serious penalties for price gouging, with potential penalties ranging from monetary fines to permanent prohibition to engage in trade and commerce. The AGO may also prosecute those involved in price gouging with criminal charges.

The AGO strongly encouraged consumers who suspect price gouging to report these matters to it. The AGO may be reached at 664-2341, fax no. 664-2349, or email attorneygeneral@saipan.com. Complaints may also be brought personally at the AGO in Capitol Hill.

FEMA assists emergency response

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun assisting local emergency response efforts, as it continues to await a disaster declaration from President Bush.

On Wednesday, Babauta said that FEMA made available two Black Hawk helicopters to allow him and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente to conduct an aerial assessment of typhoon-related damage to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Babauta earlier requested the FEMA for a Joint Federal/State Rapid Needs Assessment, even before Chaba left the islands. FEMA coordinating officer Bill Carwile also arrived on Saipan yesterday, the governor said.

Today, a C-130 aircraft would arrive on Saipan to unload FEMA equipment and supplies to support emergency functions, said Cathy Anderson, public information officer at the CNMI’s Emergency Operations Center.

FEMA’s support enlivened optimism that the President would grant Babauta’s request for disaster declaration, so that federal assistance could be made available to local residents who suffered from the typhoon, as well as to rehabilitate damaged public facilities and infrastructure.

Initial estimates placed the damage at over $18 million.

As of yesterday, the CNMI has not received such declaration yet. “We do not know whether the President would give us a declaration. We cannot do anything until the President [issues] the declaration,” Babauta said.

Shelter evacuated

Government personnel relocated some 105 evacuees from the Oleai Elementary School to the Ada Gymnasium due to sanitation concerns brought on by overflowing septic systems. Some five evacuees from the San Vicente Elementary School would be relocated to the gym, EOC’s Anderson said.

Besides the Ada gym, which has a minimum capacity of 300 persons, Anderson said the Kagman Community Center was already being prepared to accommodate evacuees, in line with plans to resume classes in public schools. Another alternative long-term shelter, the Northern Marianas College’s gymnasium, could not be used due to sustained damage from the typhoon.

Yesterday, the total number of evacuees remained at 996, including some 326 who stayed at the Marianas High School. Of the total, Saipan’s evacuees totaled 833, while those on Tinian and Rota reached 65 and 98, respectively.

Authorities are still assessing other alternative shelters to accommodate the high number of evacuees. The governor said social halls and public libraries could be potential alternative sites.

The number of houses that were either destroyed or damaged reached at least 2,150, based on preliminary damage assessment conducted by the American Red Cross. Some 323 houses got totally destroyed, 883 sustained major damage, while 944 had minor damage.

Saipan had the most number of wrecked houses, with 222 totally destroyed, 583 sustaining major damage, and 367 left with minor damage. Tinian had 28, 122, and 54, respectively; while Rota had 73, 178, and 523.

Patients may be brought to hotels

With the Commonwealth Health Center operating at maximum capacity, the center is assessing the feasibility of housing patients at hotels, the EOC said.

“As most private health clinics have not yet opened since the storm, CHC is accommodating [their] patients, as well,” it added. The CHC currently houses 54 in-patients and four intensive care unit patients.

The EOC also reported that power has been restored at the Rota Health Center. Both Rota and Tinian, though, need additional physicians and nurses, as well as medical and linen supplies. The EOC said Rota’s medical supplies might last only 1-2 weeks.

The EOC also reported that the Rota Main Fire Station, which houses firetrucks, ambulance, and response equipment, sustained significant damage, with Chaba blowing away its roof. The Department of Public Works’ garment recycling facility on Saipan also sustained damaged roof. Both facilities are being repaired.

Power, water restoration continues

The EOC said about 91 percent of Saipan’s power supply has been fully restored. The CUC placed the figure at 92 percent. Among the villages that still had now power until yesterday was Chalan Kiya.

Rota’s power supply has been 46-percent restored. The EOC said power supply to government facilities on Tinian has been restored to 15-percent normalcy, while residential areas was at 71 percent.

Water supply on Tinian has been fully restored. The EOC said water supplies on Rota and Saipan were almost fully restored as of yesterday, saying that they resumed 95- and 85-percent normal operations, respectively.