SAIPAN — More than 5,000 people had registered for FEMA Individual Assistance by Wednesday morning as the Survivor Recovery Center opened to the public at the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, Federal Coordinating Officer Andrew Grant said at a joint press briefing.
Grant, the FEMA federal coordinating officer for the Sinlaku response, said the agency had already obligated money toward survivors with particular needs and that those numbers will continue to climb as the center reaches survivors out in the community.
“Today, with this facility, it really represents one of those stopping points for individuals who have needs to come in and us understand what those needs are, and for us to the extent possible, provide that support,” Grant said.
Governor David M. Apatang, Grant and Governor’s Authorized Representative Patrick Guerrero opened the center with a press briefing in a side office at the Multi-Purpose Center. The center began processing applicants at 8 a.m. Wednesday, with more than 100 walk-ins recorded by the time the briefing began two hours later, Guerrero said.
The center pairs 30 FEMA personnel with about 15 staff from the Office of the Governor to assist applicants face-to-face, Guerrero said. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the American Red Cross are also on site.
Guerrero said the speed of the standup was unusual.
“This is maybe three weeks since the disaster, and it’s the quickest I’ve seen a survivor recovery center put up in past events. It’s usually 15 to 30 days,” Guerrero said.
The center is offering dedicated early hours from 8 to 11 a.m. for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, with general public hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.
Apatang opened the briefing with thanks to FEMA, SBA, the Red Cross and Guam Power Authority crews who arrived this week to help restore power. He thanked Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Joshua F. Tenorio and the GPA administrator for sending the line crews.
“This morning, actually, is a very special day for our people because we’re opening up the application process for assistance from FEMA and anybody that wants to apply for SBA loan,” Apatang said.
Renata Mason, public affairs specialist with the SBA, said customer service representatives are on site to help first-time applicants and those with questions about pending applications. She also pointed applicants to sba.gov/disaster and the SBA customer service line at 800-659-2955.
FEMA Individual Assistance applicants who cannot visit the center can register at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362.
Tinian and Rota centers
Asked about survivor recovery centers for Tinian and Rota, Guerrero said the Tinian Youth Center has been identified as the Tinian site and is being set up with power and other necessities for an opening “very soon.” The Rota location is being identified through the Rota Mayor’s Office. Local officials will travel to Tinian on Wednesday afternoon and to Rota as early as Thursday to support the rollout, Guerrero said.
Tinian aid concerns addressed
Asked about reports from Tinian residents that they are not seeing the same level of federal aid response as Saipan, Grant said Tinian, Saipan and Rota are receiving the same level of performance and support.
“We don’t view individuals who live on Tinian any different than on Saipan or Rota,” Grant said. “There are different problems related to the infrastructure that are challenging and making things like power distribution harder as a result of not having, for example, as many power plants that they have in Saipan to be able to turn things around, move things around to provide permanent power because of the challenges with Tinian.”
Grant said the Tinian power plant problem is a complex one with multiple lines of effort under consideration, but said no single decision has been made on the best path. He said FEMA is working with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation and CNMI leadership to determine the best course of action.
Disability and senior transportation
Asked about transportation for elderly and disabled residents who cannot reach the center, Guerrero said the messaging on COTA accommodations would be increased. He said COTA is operating its regular lines and will make accommodations for those not currently served by an existing line.
JIC Coordinator Miguel Dandan added that COTA’s Blue Line 1B serves the Multi-Purpose Center, and that persons with disabilities can call the emergency state warning point at 670-237-8000 if they need assistance with pickup.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance and food benefits
Disaster Unemployment Assistance was advertised as part of the center but a CNMI Department of Labor representative was not present at the opening. Guerrero said the Secretary of Labor is actively working on the program and will hold a press conference once it’s ready for rollout.
Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program approval is expected by Monday, May 11, Guerrero said. He said the application process has commenced and the local government has provided all the information requested by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Guam National Guard request
When asked about the request to deploy the Guam National Guard to Saipan, which Guam Governor Leon Guerrero pledged her support for last week, Apatang said he had not yet received word from the President on the approval but was informed that more than 115 Guard members would be arriving. Apatang said he would follow up with Department of War contacts.
Asked whether FEMA funding could be used to pay Guard members deployed in support of the Sinlaku response, Grant said the request is in process and that those decisions involve different lines of authority.
Grant said the Defense Coordinating Officer is part of his team and that the Department of War has been “the go-to for a lot of immediate needs” during the response.
The Survivor Recovery Center operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the first three hours reserved for persons with disabilities. Saturday and Sunday hours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
