FEMA, SBA pre-position resources as Super Typhoon Bavi bears down on CNMI

As Super Typhoon Bavi barrels toward the Northern Mariana Islands, federal disaster agencies say personnel, emergency supplies, and recovery resources are already in place to support the Commonwealth before and after the storm.

Officials from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration told Marianas Press on Sunday that they have activated contingency plans while continuing recovery efforts from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck less than three months ago.

Keith Jones, FEMA external affairs officer, said the agency has already established a Regional Response Coordination Center in Oakland, California, while hundreds of federal personnel are positioned in the Marianas.

"We've stood up a Regional Response Coordination Center in Oakland, California. We also have about 240 federal employees—not just all FEMA, from across the federal government—here [on] Saipan," Jones said in a Zoom interview with Marianas Press.

He said FEMA has commodities stored on Saipan and Guam and has already begun shipping additional emergency supplies to the region.

"We've already started the supply chain. They were discussing this in Washington, D.C., even on the Fourth of July, making sure that the people of Saipan and the people of the CNMI and Guam are going to have the supplies they need after the storm."

Jones said FEMA personnel chartered flights into the CNMI ahead of the storm to ensure staff would already be on island when conditions improve.

"We actually chartered flights to get here before the storm's impact. I just got here last night at 11 o'clock on a charter out of Guam just to make sure that we are on the island so that we are ready to go as soon as the storm passes."

While declining to discuss specific staff deployments for operational security reasons, Jones said FEMA has liaisons embedded with the CNMI Emergency Operations Center and is coordinating closely with local officials.

For its part, SBA said its primary role begins after a disaster, but preparations are already underway.

Public affairs specialist Raenada Mason said SBA staff are already on island monitoring the storm and preparing to assist survivors once conditions allow.

"Our focus is primarily after the disaster happens, but we have been in support of all the other agencies as well... We do have staff here on the ground just ready to see what that aftermath is going to look like," she told Marianas Press during the same Zoom interview.

Mason also provided an update on SBA disaster loans approved following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

She said SBA has approved more than $35.1 million in disaster loans across the CNMI, including approximately $31.1 million for Saipan, $2.9 million for Tinian, and $487,300 for Rota. Applications totaled 1,198 for Saipan, 138 for Tinian, and 35 for Rota.

Although Bavi would mark the CNMI's second super typhoon in less than three months, both officials said responding to back-to-back major disasters is not unprecedented for federal responders.

Jones, who has worked disasters including hurricanes Laura, Ian, and Nicole, said each storm presents different dangers.

"Just because you went through Sinlaku doesn't mean that Bavi's going to be the same."

He urged residents to heed government warnings and prioritize personal safety.

"If you're not in a hardened shelter, get into a hardened shelter."

Jones also advised residents to bring important documents, food and water, but stressed that safety should come before documenting property.

"I want to put your safety over taking a few pictures."

Mason echoed that message, saying residents should continue following updates from local officials while looking out for one another.

"What we do today and how we prepare today is going to make a big difference on tomorrow."

She added that FEMA and SBA remain committed to helping the Commonwealth recover once Bavi passes.

"We were here for Sinlaku. We will be here for Bavi, and again, we're going to be here to provide the resources as needed."