SAIPAN — FEMA is actively supporting damage assessment, debris clearing and public safety operations in the CNMI under the existing emergency declaration, but individual assistance grants are not yet available to residents, the CNMI Joint Information Center said Tuesday.
JIC Update 007, released at 4:00 p.m., said the current emergency declaration supplements territorial efforts in providing emergency services including protection of lives, property, public health and safety. However, individual assistance in the form of direct grants to disaster survivors for housing, personal property and other needs requires a separate presidential major disaster declaration to activate.
Residents in need of support in the meantime are encouraged to seek assistance through local volunteer agencies and community organizations.
The update comes the same afternoon that Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds announced from Washington that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has signed off on Governor David M. Apatang’s major disaster declaration request, with the package now on the president’s desk for final approval.