Emergency response focused on Rota

The CNMI administration, federal partners, and the newly established Multi-agency Coordination team hold a weather briefing with guidance from the National Weather Service in Guam yesterday at the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office on Capital Hill. (KIMBERLY B. ESMORES)

The most recent forecast on Typhoon Mawar, as projected by the National Weather Service in Guam, has shown that the southern part of Rota and the northern part of Guam will be bearing the brunt of the storm. With this development, the CNMI and its federal partners will be focusing most of emergency response efforts on Rota.

As of 5pm yesterday, a Typhoon Warning is in effect for Guam and Rota. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more are expected within 24 hours, with the onset of typhoon force winds forecast for Wednesday morning.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Saipan and Tinian. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more are expected tonight. A Typhoon Watch remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian.

At this time, Typhoon Mawar was continuing to track toward the southern Marianas and is now expected to pass between the islands Rota and Guam, which means typhoon strength winds are expected to affect the island of Rota. Maximum sustained winds have gone up to 100 mph.

In a press conference following yesterday’s three-hour long briefing, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios shared that emergency response efforts will be focused on Rota as it is expected to bear the brunt of the storm. MAC representatives have already been deployed to Rota yesterday afternoon to identify Rota’s needs, both pre- and post-Mawar.

“We have begun mobilizing assets, including federal and local resources, to assist in preparation and recovery efforts specifically for Rota. We are very concerned because that’s the closest island that is going to feel the impact,” he said.

“We’ve begun…pre-disaster preparations for Rota and we will be sending out representatives this afternoon from [the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services], [Bureau of Environment and Coastal Quality], [and Commonwealth Utilities Corp.]. Post-storm, we will be sending a lot of resources as well as people to help in recovery efforts,” he said.

Palacios said he has already issued a state of emergency declaration, and has requested President Joe Biden to issue a pre-landfall disaster declaration to further aid Rota in preparation for Mawar.

“We have…submitted a formal request to the President to declare a pre-landfall disaster declaration for the Commonwealth. That would assist by enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Defense to assist in preparations pre-landfall for the Commonwealth. We hope to hear back from the White House in the next 24 hours,” Palacios said.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management special assistant Franklin Babauta outlined Rota’s need for a generator to ensure that the Rota Health Center does not lose power during the storm. He said the generator remains on Saipan as of press time and is unsure when the generator will be transported to Rota.

“Rota is still waiting for a generator for the hospital. We still have the generator here on Saipan but the capability to move the generator is our challenge. Most of the movement now is [by sea] through the Rota channel and that can be challenging right now. It all depends on the vendor that is going to be moving the generator and supplies from Saipan to Rota. It all depends on the weather condition,” he said.

“This generator is too large to be flown to Saipan. That’s why it needs to be transported by sea. But, once the vendors are ready, then we will ship the generator down,” he added.

Babauta said a request has been made to the Department of Defense through FEMA to possibly help in transporting the generator to Rota. However, this will only be possible if Biden issues a pre-landfall disaster declaration

Palacios, speaking on the crucial need for this generator, stated that while arrangements are being made to transport the generator, HSEM Rota has agreed to loan its generator to the Rota Health Center, while the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has also offered to fly out a few smaller generators.

“The Homeland Security Office on Rota has a smaller generator that they will transfer down to the hospital. That’s the critical facility. So they’re going to transfer that generator temporarily until we can get the bigger one to Rota. Then I believe that CHCC will be sending, by air, some smaller generators to the Rota Health Center. We’re working on that,” he said.

Palacios added that the Rota Mayor’s Office and Rota’s Homeland Security is working on a list for other resources needed pre- and post-Mawar landfall.

“The Rota Mayor’s Office and Rota Homeland Security is putting together a list of additional items that are needed and we will source those out from either Guam or Saipan. We will make every effort to get the needed resources down there,” he said.

FEMA’s Brian Beck said that, in response to Palacios’ request, FEMA has moved forward with mobilizing different federal resources.

“We have set up 12 independent emergency support functions to address different lifelines like critical infrastructure, mass care, feeding, etc. Those people are in place and more are coming today to Saipan. The full weight of the federal family is behind the CNMI especially our friends on Rota,” he said.