SAIPAN — A community member shared a tribute to Ben Babauta, who volunteered with the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance to coordinate the earliest waves of volunteer recovery work after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
The submitter, who asked to remain anonymous, said Babauta was leading the charge as the dust was still settling. On the second day after the storm, he was already organizing volunteers, directing where supplies should go and who would deliver them.
“He was an organizer coordinator and delegator,” the submitter said. “He was at the beginning, truly leading the charge, giving volunteers the direction to put their energy to good use, bringing relief to so many people in the immediate aftermath of the storm.”
Babauta worked through the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance to secure toiletries for shelterees, cleaning supplies and resources for shelter managers, and cases of water, the submitter said. He started with his family and whoever responded to a text message chain, and the network grew from there.
As more supplies arrived, including water flown in from Guam by helicopter, Babauta coordinated direct distribution so people did not have to drive and wait in line, the submitter said.
To nominate someone for Show Us the Good Out There, send your submission and photo to NMI News Service.
