 Acting President Declares State of Emergency in Yap StatePALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): January 15, 1997 - In responding to Governor Vincent Figir's request for assistance concerning Typhoon Fern, Acting President Jacob Nena on January 3rd declared that:
The Governor of Yap, Honorable Vincent Figir, declared a State Emergency on December 27, 1996, based upon the damage and destruction caused by Typhoon Fern on December 25 and continuing through December 26, 1996. High winds and accompanying waves swept through the main islands of Yap State, causing widespread and severe damage to homes, cooking houses, and private property. Typhoon Fern has also devastated the agricultural sector, destroying most of the crops that people consume for daily sustenance, including coconuts, bananas, papayas, and breadfruit. Public facilities and buildings, including schools, medical facilities, roads and utilities have suffered widespread and severe damage. The Governor of Yap State, Honorable Vincent Figir, declared that the effects of Typhoon Fern pose a serious and imminent threat to the health, safety and welfare of the residents in the affected areas and has requested assistance from the National Government of the Federated States of Micronesia to assist his state in responding to the emergency. Accordingly, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia authorized the expenditure of funds from the Disaster Relief Fund as necessary to supplement the efforts and available resources of Yap State and its local governments in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship and suffering caused by Typhoon Fern. Expenditures may be used for necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies, compensation for crop damage, transportation, debris clearance, and repair of damaged property, building materials and other such matters as the President determines to be necessary and occasioned by disaster. The President further authorized and directed the National Disaster Control Office to assist Yap State, in accordance with law. |