Joint Task Group Engineers arrive on Saipan; continue recovery efforts

8th Theater Sustainment Command
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Wynnfred Hoke

Date: 01.06.2019
Posted: 01.11.2019 00:00
News ID: 306686
Joint Task Group Engineers arrive on Saipan; continue recovery efforts

The Department of Defense has deployed active-duty service members from the Army, Air Force, and Navy under the Command and Control of Joint Task Force West.
Joint Task Group Engineer will lead day-to-day operations to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands’ Super Typhoon Yutu recovery efforts.

The task group arrived in Saipan, CNMI Jan. 5-6, and started staging equipment and vehicles that will be used during the recovery mission efforts.

“We are excited to reinforce the temporary roofing efforts led by CNMI and FEMA,” Said Lt. Col. Reyn Mann, 84th Engineer Battalion and Task Group Engineer Commander. “We know we are stronger as a task group, and our Soldiers, Seabees and Airmen are here to work hard for the people of Tinian and Saipan, who have shown remarkable courage and resilience in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.”

Since October 24, 2018, military service members from the DoD have accomplished numerous FEMA-assigned immediate response and recovery mission assignment. The current focus for Task Group Engineers remains on the installation of temporary roofs.

To meet mission goals, DoD active duty engineers are tasked to restore much-needed shelter to those affected by Super Typhoon Yutu. More than 200 temporary roofs have already been completed in Saipan and Tinian.

“As the CNMI continues to recover from Super Typhoon Yutu, the military will also continue to provide assistance to FEMA in support of the CNMI recovery efforts,” said, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, commander, Joint Region Marianas and commander of Joint Task Force West. “The engineers comprised of Army, Air Force and Navy service members will work diligently to provide much-needed temporary roofing to residents of Saipan and Tinian.”

The DoD mission is expected to continue until the critical needs are met or FEMA officials have implemented the appropriate mix of civil and contracted solutions to allow them to continue to lead federal government relief and recovery efforts without DoD support.

“The federal family continues to work, side-by-side, with our counterparts from the CNMI and the DoD to rebuild a more resilient community,” said, Teresa Serata, Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer. “Our commitment is to remain here and continue to help rebuild, because we understand these homes are more than just structures, they contain families.”

Military service members from Joint Region Marianas and from locations throughout the Indo-Pacific Command are proud of their efforts to work with Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands’ civil and local officials and assist FEMA in the efforts to recover from the devastating impacts of Super Typhoon Yutu.