Only three families left at Ada Gym

By Cassie DLG Fejeran
Special to the Tribune

The Emergency Management Office has sent all but three families home from the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium yesterday.

According to Ada gym shelter manager Joe Mettao, the EMO requested to have the three families – comprising of 19 adults and children – remain in the facility until they rebuilt their homes or relocate to another.

The EMO, American Red Cross, and the Community Guidance Center are working together to provide tents, tarps, cots, and blankets to the evacuees that have left the gym.

“We got $1,600 from the American Red Cross,” said a resident from Oleai. The American Red Cross has issued a check worth $1,600 for assistance in food, clothing, and other necessities. “We also got a small lamp, tent, cooking stove, and [eating utensils],” she added.

Connie, a resident of Kagman, visited her relatives still staying at the Susupe Sports Complex. “My house is okay, the bathroom is the only problem, but I’m here to be with my [relatives],” she said.

“There are some people they [EMO] sent home,” she said. “But the real question is, is it safe for them to go home?”

Her relatives were told to leave yesterday afternoon despite the damaged to their homes. “Their roof flew off and all their belongings are wet. The body of their house moved from the foundation. How can it be safe for them to go back home,” Connie said.

Damaged homes weren’t the only problem that tormented these families. Fiana Moses, resident from Chalan Kanoa, said she has six kids, and a few happen to be sick.

“We stayed here for one week. My house is damaged. It’s flooded inside. It stinks from the sewer [age] and there’s fish inside too,” she said.

Moses stood patient by the gym, as Linda Graf-American Red Cross disaster relief personnel phoned the relief center for assistance.

“They said that we have to stay here for two nights until they find a place to put the tent for us,” said Moses.

Children Ethan and Kayleen entertained themselves in the gym while their parents sought out to seek for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“My parents went to sign some papers for FEMA, because our house is flooded and we need help,” said 15-year old Kayleen.

“I’m not used to it here because it’s too open. There’s no privacy, but its also okay sometimes because I have relatives that were here,” she added.

“It’s fun to be here because we meet more friends,” said Ethan. “Now everyone is gone, I would rather go home.”

Evacuees will remain in the shelter until further notice from EMO. “By next week, hopefully, we should know from the EMO if it’s okay for these families to go home,” said Mettao.

Only last Thursday, the Ada Gym was home to 191 people who were evacuated from their homes due to the onslaught of Supertyphoon Chaba a couple of weeks ago.