NMC, Ada gyms to be used for shelters

The island of Saipan withstood a fierce thrashing from Supertyphoon Chaba this week, and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium in Oleai was no different. The worst of the wind and rains left the fence line crushed, bleachers mangled, trees dismembered, and lofty stadium lights on the ground. Aside from that, when they returned to the local sports center, the workers still had to deal with over two inches of water on the gym floor.

The water has since been removed and power was restored to the facility at 4pm on Tuesday evening, and yesterday the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Sports and Recreation division employees were busy cleaning for the next main event at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Beginning this week, both the Ada and Northern Marianas College gym facilities that are normally abuzz with the sights and sounds of basketball and volleyball will be converted into a shelter for displaced members of the community as a result of the storm and flooding from the lingering rains.

According to DCCA public information officer Catherine Anderson, both facilities are being evaluated as possible long-term shelters. She said, though, that a time frame as to how long the facilities would be used as shelters depends on if President George W. Bush declares a federal emergency.

“That depends on if [President George W. Bush] declares federal emergency, which we are expecting within two weeks,” she said.

Data indicates that there are currently 785 people in shelters on Saipan.

Earlier, CNMI Emergency Operations Center information and planning chief Tony Calvo said the gyms would accommodate evacuees to give way to resumption of classes in public schools—nine schools were designated as shelters.

Education commissioner Rita Inos said classes will resume once everything is ready and there is power and water in schools.

“The main point is to move the evacuees here so they can open up the schools when the power is up,” said DCCA employee Joey Dela Cruz during cleanup efforts at the Ada gym.

The main area in the Ada facility will be used as the shelter, along with the adjoining room that has been used for Tae Kwan Do, and coordinators expect to house between 200 to 300 residents in the coming days.

With the usage of the Ada Gym, action in several sport events including the Saipan Rotary Summer Youth Basketball League, Inter Restaurant Basketball League, and UFO-San Miguel Cup have been on hold.

Meanwhile, Sports and Recreation officials indicated that it may be weeks or months before the remainder of the repairs to the baseball field, softball field, and the track facility are completed, and an assessment team has yet to be assembled to determine the cost of the damage to the complex.

For updates on the condition of the facility and the resumption of sporting activities, contact Tony Rogolifoi or Eli Rangamar by calling 664-2503/8.