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Heavy showers cause flooding in some areas
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Posted on Jul 29 2008
Certain areas on Saipan were inundated with floodwaters yesterday after a trough of low pressure brought scattered showers to the Marianas region.
Emergency Management Office public information officer Juan T. Camacho said that flooding occurred in Tanapag, Garapan, San Jose, Susupe, Chalan Kanoa and As Perdido.
As of noon yesterday, the EMO reported no serious accidents resulting from the floods.
At 9am yesterday, water, rocks, tree branches and other debris covered the south- and northbound lanes of the highway in front of the former KC Market in Tanapag. As a result, motorists were forced to drive slowly along the center of the highway.
At the same time, floodwaters cascaded from the mountain, inundating all four lanes along a portion of the highway near the Saipan Ice intersection. A Department of Public Works crew promptly cleared the road of debris. The cleanup triggered a minor traffic jam.
EMO staff usually monitor roadways for possible flooding during times of heavy rainfall.
EMO then reports the matter to the appropriate agency, which then gives orders to open the necessary roadside drains to accommodate the flooding, said Camacho.
Any accidents are reported to the police, he added.
Camacho said the trough of low pressure also brought isolated thunderstorms to the Marianas yesterday morning.
According to the Marianas synopsis, showers were expected to be isolated yesterday afternoon and evening.
He added that scattered showers and thunderstorms were also expected yesterday evening after midnight.
