Category: Typhoon

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Community Development Disaster Response Rebuilding Typhoon

Saipan Rebuild Program

Our first program in partnership with FEMA on the island of Saipan has started this week. We had been in discussion with FEMA over the past few months on a Rebuild program post Typhoon Yutu that struck Saipan and Tinian last October. The Greater New York and Northeastern ACS DR teams who assisted with the Rebuild programs in Florida and North Carolina after hurricanes Michael and Florence touched down in those areas last year, has volunteered to assist on Saipan. A group of around 30 individuals will be involved in this 4-week Rebuild program which will run through April 26th.

Our volunteers will be divided into three teams. The Assessment Team which will consist of eight members will be deployed in the first week. They will outline the areas on the island where they need to concentrate their efforts, in consultation with FEMA. In the second week, another ten-member Team will join the Assessment Team to begin working onsite replacing roofs, windows, doors, and other repairs. The third Team will join in the last phase of the Program to continue the needed work. Our Hawaii ACS Director, Gerry Mota, is working with the local ACS DR Team to get them better prepared to serve the affected community. Currently, we have about 30 individuals who are certified in Emotional and Spiritual Care who we hope to connect with the local community to provide care and counseling.

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Community Development Disaster Response Typhoon

Damage Assessment of Homes on Saipan and Tinian

The Seventh-day Adventist churches on the islands of Saipan and Tinian joined us in the Typhoon Yutu Relief Efforts in their respective communities. Church members who participated in the Disaster Assessment class conducted by Derrick Lea, NAD ACS DR director, assessed homes that were severely damaged by the Typhoon. Based on the degree of damage done to homes, families were given vouchers for building materials to help rebuild their homes.

From November 16 – 19, the Tinian SDA Church volunteers assessed homes in their community, and ended up providing vouchers to 61 households. These vouchers were especially beneficial to those families who were still waiting to get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other non-profit organizations. Pr. Paulo Restauro, Jr., pastor of the Tinian SDA Church, was extremely grateful to his church members and ACS personnel for their wonderful service to the community.

We had volunteers from the Saipan SDA Church who also lent their assistance in handing out vouchers to their community. They started assessing homes early this month, and concluded its voucher distribution on November 25. The volunteers were led by their director, Dr. Warren Creed, who runs the SDA Dental Clinic on Saipan, and coordinator, Shack Manuel. They visited 219 houses in Koblerville and San Antonio, where each received vouchers ranging from $100 to $500, depending on the extent of the damage. The vouchers can be redeemed at a local hardware store in exchange for building materials, or other household items.

The residents were overwhelmed with joy and truly appreciative of the help they received. One resident who was very thankful for receiving a $500 voucher said, “Our house was totally wrecked and my priority is to buy some building materials”. The volunteers were also glad that they could be of service even though they had limited resources to work with. Dr. Creed said, “I wish we could do more. It’s hard to say ‘no’ to people who are in need.” In total, ACS provided $100,000 to assist the Typhoon survivors: $20,000 worth of vouchers were distributed on Tinian and $80,000 on Saipan.

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Disaster Response Typhoon

Typhoon Yutu Update

The Islands of Saipan and Tinian are struggling to recover from the effects of Typhoon Yutu, one of the most powerful weather events recorded in history. Since the storm touched down in late October, we have been in daily contact with our ACS DR Director Max Mays and FEMA lead Michael Kern about the needs on both of these islands. Our discussions have expanded to include the leadership of the Guam Micronesia Mission President Ken Norton.

Deliveries of supplies were sent early in the Recovery efforts to those on the ground. Most of the efforts of FEMA and other governmental entities have been put into providing shelter to the survivors. A limited number of buildings that had not been damaged by the storm were utilized for housing the residents. Tents are also being used on the land of those whose homes have been destroyed. With this primary need taking precedence, ACS is crafting a list of unmet needs we might be able to meet.

One of the areas being considered is setting up some Distribution Sites that would give out items the community is needing such as solar-powered lighting, tarps, and mosquito netting on both Islands. These Efforts will begin in Guam where items will be purchased from Home Depot and other stores, and delivered to the communities. We are also looking to set up a Warehouse in Saipan. Though the conditions on the affected Islands will create some challenges, our ACS DR team is prepared to help and currently sits on Standby awaiting a request of assistance. Since we work in coordination with the local community, our efforts will incorporate appropriate trained teams for the task that lies ahead. We will also be partnering with other NGOs, FEMA, and Military personnel to help in these areas.

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Disaster Response Hurricanes Typhoon

Hurricane and Typhoon Relief Update

A team of 21 individuals from the Northeastern Conference joined our ACS Disaster Response forces on the ground in Florida to support the Southeastern, Florida, South Central, Gulf States, and Georgia-Cumberland Conferences responding to Hurricane Michael, presently. The State Warehouse in Tallahassee has now been operational for almost two weeks. Pastor Daniel Hoover (Arkansas-Louisiana Conference) and Charlene Sargent (Pacific Union Conference) are lending their support to the operations at the Warehouse. A County Warehouse in the State of Georgia, and Distribution Sites in Panama City and in the surrounding communities are also functioning. We are also meeting the needs of the affected residents by cleaning debris from homes and properties.

While this work continues, we are still occupied with our Guam-Micronesia Mission in support of those affected on the Islands of Saipan and Tinian by Typhoon Yutu. Several areas on both the Islands are still suffering from power outage. We have been working with our local ACS Director Max Mays and his Team to find ways on how we can best serve the affected communities. Supplies have been bought and sent to our volunteers on the ground to be distributed to the survivors. Currently, we are in discussions with FEMA and the local VOAD about the developing needs and while help is being finalized, we are working amongst ourselves and partnering with others that are able to bring resources to bear on this crisis event.

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Disaster Response Typhoon

ACS Responds to Typhoon Yutu

Max Mays, ACS Director of Guam-Micronesia Mission, and his Team are on the ground after Typhoon Yutu pummeled over the areas of Tinian and Saipan. Supplies will be purchased to support the relief efforts on the affected islands. W. Derrick Lea, NAD Disaster Response Director, stated that over 100 homes have been destroyed. The full extent of the damage is unknown at this time due to power outages and no phone service. We are requesting CASH donations, given the hardship of sending supplies overseas.

Please pray for all those affected by this tragedy and consider making a monetary donation towards the Recovery Efforts.

Monetary Donations may be made by two ways:

  1. Sending a check to:
    Guam-Micronesia Mission of Seventh-day Adventist
    Attn: Max Mays, ACS Director
    290 Chalan Palasyo
    Again Heights GUAM, 96910
    MEMO: Guam Mission Disaster Response
  2. Donate online
    COMMENTS: Guam Mission Disaster Response
Categories
Disaster Response Typhoon

#SaipanTyphoon #ACS Responds

ACS is on the scene in Saipan, part of the NAD’s Guam-Micronesia Mission, in the aftermath of the destructive Typhoon Soudelor, that devastated that area on Sunday night, August 2. The VOAD partners for that area have asked ACS to set up a multi-agency warehouse to house and distribute goods coming from Guam and other countries. ACS is working with the disaster response teams of ADRA as well as other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have gone there to help. So far they have been able to create a partnership with the airline industry for low-cost transportation to Saipan, following very strict requirements.

One of their goals while there is to develop and train a Saipan ACS team from people who live there. In order for Saipan members to work with a larger organization that has means and specific duties to work with the entire disaster relief framework, special skills and understanding are needed. For instance, ACS is training people with very little technical expertise to work with the inventory software necessary for running a warehouse in a disaster aftermath. There are additional challenges, one being that Saipan is financially challenged, and they need additional funds beyond what is usually allotted to local NAD conferences grappling with disaster relief.

To donate for Saipan, go to https://acsdonate.maxgiving.com/pay/step_1 and write “Saipan Relief” in the Comments section, or on a check if using church offering or snail mail to the division office.

“Sometimes we do not realize just how many people are relying on your service and ministry,” said Sean Robinson, ACS director for Disaster Response for North America. “Every act of service is an act of worship and changes peoples lives.”

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Disaster Response Typhoon

#ACSResponds Typhoon Soudelor

On Sunday, August 2nd, Typhoon Soudelor struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The catastrophic event knocked out electricity on the 48-square-mile island. About 50,000 people live on the island, and most of them live in Saipan, which took the larger hit of the storm.

Adventist Community Service responded right away. Local churches and partnering teams responded to the typhoon by evaluating the situation and providing aid to the families that were affected. More specifically, ACS opened a multi-agency warehouse and with the help of ACS volunteers, were able to set up a distribution pipeline with butane for light & cooking, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and personal hygiene kits. ACS was able to trail local church members/volunteers on leadership skills on how to operate the warehouse.

Saipan’s Adventist dental clinic and the Adventist school’s damage was minimal and is now functioning. With removed debris, they are able to fully function but are looking at repairing the minimal damage slowly.

ACS has established plans to continue to serve long-term in the community of Saipan and will do so until further notice.

To donate, please go to communityservices.org

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Disaster Response Typhoon

ACS responds in Saipan

North American Division Adventist Community Services is on the ground in Saipan responding to the needs after a powerful typhoon hit the island in early August. Saipan was hit by typhoon Soudelor on August 2 with sustained winds of over 120 mph. More than 1000 homes have been destroyed and many businesses damaged. Approximately 24,000 people still have no access to clean water and electricity.

Today NAD ACS is working with other NGO’s to set up a warehouse and start distributing relief supplies. ADRA International is partnering with NAD ACS in the response.

NAD ACS has obtained access to a 10,000 square foot warehouse to use as a distribution center to meet the needs of the people in Saipan who are struggling to recover from the typhoon that hit the island in early August. Today they will be starting to set up the distribution center and work with other local NGO’s in filling the warehouse with supplies for distribution. Local Adventist members will help by manning the distribution center and helping to sort the supplies.