(PART 1) Super Typhoon Yutu: The Aftermath and Stories of Resilience
This week, the worst U.S. storm rampaged and devastated one of America’s gems — the Northern Mariana Islands. Residents call it the most destructive and monstrous storm they had ever experienced.
The Extreme Category 5 typhoon had people (including my family) crouching with trepidation and worry — wondering what would happen the next day. Then roofs flew, windows shattered, electricity poles fell, cars flipped and people were left with no homes to get back to.
No words can explain the damage that Yutu has done. With the help of CNMI residents and volunteers, I’ll be sharing a series of videos, photos, audio and stories I’ve collected from my fellow Saipan residents.
This gentleman migrated to the U.S. territory of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands — like many others, in search for the American Dream while providing what he can for his family thousands of miles away in Bangladesh.
After several years of living in the village of Chalan Kanoa, Yutu had destroyed his home. All his hard work and efforts to pursue the American Dream have now been reduced to the clothes he’s wearing, a trash bag and one tiny luggage.
When he was asked where he will be heading next, all he could do is look away to avoid eye contact. He shrugged and softly said, “I don’t know.”
And asked if he will be okay or if he needed anything, again he said, “I don’t know.”
He took a few bottles of water from Leni’s hands, and the gentleman rushed to catch up with his friends. The three gentlemen will roam the streets of Saipan — homeless, until they find a good person to take them in.
Homelessness in the island is now a reality. Not from lack of efforts from community members or the government, but from many friends and families left in the same situation.
The next piece is a video:
“Salvage everything that you can salvage.”
One family didn’t even know where to begin. The Litulumar family in the village of Chalan Kanoa lost more than they could have ever imagined — a home, all their posessions …. and a beloved sister.
In the eye of the storm, in the middle of the night, all they could hear were the roaring sounds of the wind, crashing sounds of roofing tins and the cracking sound of the concrete walls. Before they knew it, the Litulumar family were left exposed to wind gusts of up to 200+ mph and sustaining winds of over 100–150 mph.
Their concrete wall had collapsed. It has been the most devastating typhoon they had ever faced.
Another account I received was from one of my old friends, Ginny Wu, who is currently in California. Her parents, however, were in the islands — running a small business. Here is Ginny’s account:
My parents, age 54 and 58, lost their home. They are small business owners that lived on the second floor of their small clothing store. In the midst of the typhoon, gust of winds took the entire roof off the second floor, destroying their entire living spaces and personal belongings. They were able to seek shelter on the first floor, but there was a lot of flooding. They were left with no food or water during the storm.
Their store is their only source of income, but much of the merchandise was damaged as they were placed on the second floor. Thankfully their car is working, so they are able to go further away to get food and water from a friend nearby. They currently have no water for laundering or showering and no food or tools to cook.
Their main source of income was destroyed, so they will be facing a lot of financial difficulties. They have no clean, dry clothes, or blankets because a majority of their belongings were blown away, damaged, and wet.
These are just one of the many stories that emerged in wake of Super Typhoon Yutu. They need government aid, donations, relief efforts and all the manpower they can get to rebuild their paradise.
The islands’ water system has been shut off and timeline to fix is still unknown. FEMA is on the way, but who knows how long till supplies run out. Saipan International Aiport will have limited operations for the next few weeks.
Part Two will be published tomorrow.
