WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) — President Obama on Tuesday amended his Aug. 6 declaration of federal assistance to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Obama had previously declared that a major disaster had taken place in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following the damage caused by Typhoon Soudelor between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3.
His amendment increases the amount of disaster assistance. Now, 90 percent of costs sustained by public assistance and housing repair programs on the islands will be covered by federal funds, as opposed to a previous 75 percent.
The original declaration on Aug. 6 ordered federal aid to supplement local efforts helping the affected. This aid included grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover property losses and other forms of aid for residential and business owners alike. Funding was also made available to provide for any additional emergency work that needs to be carried out on the islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appointed Stephen M. De Blasio Sr. as the spearhead of recovery operations in the commonwealth. The agency added that the findings of damage surveys were continuing to come in as of the declaration’s date. Finally, it published a website and phone number (1-800-621-FEMA or 1-800-462-7585 for TTY individuals) for those seeking assistance. These were said to operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week until otherwise stated.
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