For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 8, 2005

Statement on Federal Assistance for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Typhoon Nabi on August 30 - September 1, 2005.

Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth and affected local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in the Islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair and replacement of facilities damaged by Typhoon Nabi.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the islands of Rota, Saipan, and Tinian.

R. David Paulison, Acting Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Woodrow Goins as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said additional assistance may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

# # #