Kagman is one of 1st staging areas for Sinlaku relief as FEMA supplies arrive

Relief distribution is now underway in Kagman, one of the hardest-hit areas on Saipan, with aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency beginning to reach residents following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

The first pallets of emergency supplies arrived via a FEMA aircraft at the Francisco C. Sablan-Saipan International Airportafter 11am, April 18, before being transported to a staging and distribution site in Kagman.

At the aid station, Clement “CJ” Bermudez Jr., serving as special coordinator for the Individual Assistance Program, said efforts are now shifting toward helping residents recover in the storm’s aftermath.

“This is a program that takes over and helps on the recovery side for individuals,” he said. “This is not directly my operation, but I’m here to assist. Homeland is currently coordinating a distribution point for potable water.”

Bermudez said FEMA has “ballparked this for about a week’s worth of water,” intended to supplement existing supplies as access to the area remains limited. 

“As we know, the road is still [not fully] open and commerce still can’t get in, but this is to supplement and alleviate some of the resource constraints here,” he said.

Distribution mechanics are still being finalized, with officials weighing how best to allocate water equitably among residents.

“It’s up to the logistics crew on how they want to distribute each water box, but that’s to be determined. But it’s just to ensure that we want everyone—we want the whole public here in Kagman—to be able to kind of get some of the distribution here,” Bermudez added.

Kagman was among the areas that sustained significant damage from Sinlaku, compounded by access issues as a sinkhole appeared on the road down to the village. 

“It is, and it doesn’t help that because of the road situation, there’s only one access point right now and the government is working diligently to open a bypass,” he said, noting the presence of a sinkhole that has further constrained movement.

In addition to water, limited food assistance is also being rolled out.

 “Food rations are on this drop—limited supply, just to supplement some of the open markets here in Kagman. We know that Kagman market is open and we want to push local commerce first. So these are all supplementary,” Bermudez said. “MREs, fuel rations.”

 Initial figures indicate approximately 900 meals ready-to-eat and 10 pallets of water were included in the first FEMA shipment, marking the start of what officials say will be a continuing flow of relief supplies into the storm-battered community.