CNMI resident says temporary roof program falls short of storm protection needs

Catherine Blas and her family had to leave their concrete home in Koblerville after the doors and windows were broken by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. They sheltered in a nearby house on their property with a tin roof. Part of that roof was damaged, so Blas and her family applied for the Temporary Emergency Roof Program. However, Blas is sounding the alarm, calling the installation of the roof a “sloppy job” that won’t withstand future storms. She’s calling for accountability and for a more sustainable program that can protect them from future weather conditions.

FEMA External Affairs Officer Bradly Pierce told Marianas Press the program “should be considered a first step in the recovery process but not the final.”

He added, “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) coordinates installation and has a final inspection process in addition to quality control procedures to review concerns from residents and address issues found valid. Roofing specialists made multiple site visits to the referenced resident’s home for follow-up actions on reported concerns. Following final inspection, they considered the temporary roof work complete and compliant with program requirements.”

When asked about long-term sustainability of the installed roof, Pierce said, “In terms of ongoing maintenance, USACE's ability to pursue corrective action after installation is limited. The timeframe for accepting and documenting complaints would ultimately be determined by CNMI and the Mayor's Offices. If an issue were reported, USACE would not have a contractual mechanism to compel the contractor to perform additional work or provide a remedy. However, in the case of a significant workmanship issue – such as a temporary repair failing under conditions it was intended to withstand, rather than a minor leak or similar deficiency – USACE could engage with the contractor and encourage them to voluntarily address the issue, but that would still be a pretty limited window.”

He added, “Although all work was completed by professional roof installers, as a free service offered to disaster survivors, it is not intended to be permanent – a significant point to emphasize. Therefore, residents should take additional steps to fortify their homes for future storms.”