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SAIPAN, August 13, 2015 - A FEMA mitigation Specialist provides a Typhoon Soudelor survivor with information about resilient rebuilding. Photo by Ron Roth.

Transformers being loaded for transport to the CUC.

When Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan in August, it affected more than just its human residents--the Saipan Zoo was also heavily impacted. None of the animals were hurt, but the facilities were damaged, and because the zoo is a private, for-profit organization, it was not eligible for FEMA assistance. Forced to close the zoo for safety reasons, owner Frank Aldan set up a GoFundMe account on Facebook to seek additional funds to make the necessary repairs. Through this effort, several of our team members found out about Frank's dilemma and volunteered their time to help him reopen the zoo. Since mid-August, FEMA volunteers have spent their Saturdays clearing debris, cutting trees and providing food to help the zoo recover. One of the largest trees on the island was on the zoo's property, and the typhoon blew it over. The tree was so big that volunteers from our staff spent over four weeks cutting it into manageable pieces. Last week, Frank celebrated his 60th birthday and the volunteers were invited to share his special day. Frank's grandson, Thunder, wanted to say thanks to our team members, so he selected some of his favorite rocks and painted them as tokens of his appreciation and presented them to the volunteer crew. Now our staff will always have a piece of the zoo in our hearts and a special token to remind us of the lasting friendships we made here.

The Commonwealth Utility Corporation and Colorado Primary Source Electric crews repair power lines on the island of Saipan as part of the effort to restore long term power to the area after Typhoon Soudelor caused devastation in August.

AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team supported a large-scale volunteer event in Chalan Kanoa in coordination with United for Saipan and the LTRG (CARE).The AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team members trained and led 25 volunteers in canvassing the Chalan Kanoa neighborhood with two goals in mind: to bring to light the community's unmet needs, and to determine work sites for the Saturday and Sunday volunteer events. Over Saturday & Sunday, volunteers went through the neighborhood to gather debris for removal, collected information from additional clients about their unmet needs, and received training on client intakes for unmet needs. In total at this event, 77 client intakes were completed, 140 cubic yards of tin & vegetative debris were removed, and a total of 391 volunteer hours were logged by 117 volunteers supporting the Cleanup events over Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Jack Synnott, Hazard Mitigation Branch Director, conducts an on-location radio interview with Gary Sword from KKMP at the True Value in Saipan. FEMA Hazard Mitigation specialists have been answering questions at True Value Hardware, ACE Hardware, and Do It Best Hardware stores in an effort to help Typhoon Soudelor survivors build back better and stronger. They are providing information for preventing damages to your home and for protecting your family from typhoons and flooding. Hazard Mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long term risk to people and property from natural disasters. Hazard Mitigation projects may include, but are not limited to rebuilding, flood-proofing, and building stronger.

Disaster Survivor Assistance specialist Coy Carl works at hazard mitigation educational outreach at Ace Hardware in Saipan, after the island was devastated by Typhoon Soudelor in August.

The final 11 transformers were delivered Friday afternoon.

American Red Cross staff conducting immediate case management for CNMI residents.

Hazard Mitigation Specialist Mario Verde discussing with NMTI's Mike Vargas and ACE Hardware Store Manager Ramon Sablan, the mitigation techniques used on the models.

When Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan in August 2015, it affected more than just its human residents--the Saipan Zoo was also heavily impacted. None of the animals were hurt, but the facilities were damaged, and because the zoo is a private, for-profit organization, it was not eligible for FEMA assistance. Forced to close the zoo for safety reasons, owner Frank Aldan set up a GoFundMe account on Facebook to seek additional funds to make the necessary repairs. Through this effort, several of our team members found out about Frank's dilemma and volunteered their time to help him reopen the zoo. Since mid-August, FEMA volunteers have sent their Saturdays clearing debris, cutting trees and providing food to help the zoo recover. One of the largest trees on the island was on the zoo's property, and the typhoon blew it over. Here, FEMA's Stephen DeBlasio cuts a segment of the tree with a chainsaw while Ryan Brown looks on.

When Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan in August, it affected more than just its human residents--the Saipan Zoo was also heavily impacted. None of the animals were hurt, but the facilities were damaged, and because the zoo is a private, for-profit organization, it was not eligible for FEMA assistance. Forced to close the zoo for safety reasons, owner Frank Aldan set up a GoFundMe account on Facebook to seek additional funds to make the necessary repairs. Through this effort, several of our team members found out about Frank's dilemma and volunteered their time to help him reopen the zoo. Since mid-August, FEMA volunteers have sent their Saturdays clearing debris, cutting trees and providing food to help the zoo recover. One of the largest trees on the island was on the zoo's property, and the typhoon blew it over. The tree was so big that volunteers from our staff spent over four weeks cutting it into manageable pieces.