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Fuel crisis on Rota is finally solved
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Posted on Sep 03 2004
New fuel stock finally arrived on Rota yesterday, restoring the island’s supply to normal level after nearly two weeks of stormy weather since the onslaught of Supertyphoon Chaba.
The fuel shipment solved the looming fuel crisis on the island, as Mayor Benjamin Manglona sought resupply of fuel stock that remained low after the typhoon struck the Northern Marianas.
“Rota is no longer in a fuel crisis,” said Jenn Castro, public information officer at the Emergency Operations Center. She said all of Rota’s fuel tanks were filled, after yesterday’s arrival of Mobil’s tanker.
Castro said Rota received a supply of gasoline in the morning, while that of diesel fuel followed in the afternoon.
Bad weather in the past days hampered fuel shipment to the island, even as the Rota mayor stressed the need for resupply when he declared a local emergency on the island that was severely devastated by Chaba.
In related disaster recovery news, Castro said the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. distributed applications for vouchers that could be used by patients with special needs and their families to avail themselves of government or private housing. Castro said the NMHC has distributed applications to some 67 families of patients with special needs. Some families of such patients have been billeted at hotels through the help of the American Red Cross.
Meanwhile, Castro said all evacuees displaced by Chaba would be sent back to their homes this afternoon after nearly two weeks in evacuation. She said those with destroyed homes would be given the necessary assistance, including rental of temporary houses to live in.
Many evacuees went home after receiving relief supplies such as tents, tarps, cots, and blankets. The Saipan Typhoon Relief Center had received some 160 applications for relief as of Thursday night, distributing these relief items. The center opens from Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 8pm.
