The territory is now under a State of Disaster Emergency due to continuous rain and strong winds, which have caused widespread flooding and landslides.
The State of Disaster Emergency, declared in an executive order issued yesterday by Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr., notes that there have already been injuries and loss of life, with families currently displaced from their homes.
Heavy rain and high winds have also caused damage to critical infrastructure, including—but not limited to—water and power utilities, as well as communications and equipment.
Heavy rainfall has deposited debris in streams and roads impeding travel and hindering the ability of agencies to provide necessary services.
The executive order states that the territory is also in the midst of a Public Health Emergency due to the spread of Dengue Fever.
The Emergency Operations Center has been activated to work with departments and agencies to monitor the weather and its impacts throughout the territory.
ASG and relevant departments are authorized to use all necessary powers to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from the extant emergency.
Under the order, price gouging is prohibited. Those who are in violation will be prosecuted, and the Attorney General is authorized to request justification from any business deemed to have substantially increased prices during the emergency period.
The executive order also gives ASG departments the authority to promulgate emergency rules to deal with the disaster emergency, in accordance with established law and the Administrative Procedures Act. Such rules must first be submitted to the Governor.
The state of disaster emergency shall be in effect until the Governor finds that the threat of danger has passed or the disaster has been dealt with to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist. The state of emergency must then be terminated by executive order or proclamation—but may not exceed 30 days unless renewed by the Governor.
Acting Governor Pulumataala also issued a memo yesterday directing that today, Tuesday, July 29, government offices lacking power or deemed unsafe due to weather conditions may be closed or limit their operations. Supervisors are responsible for notifying employees regarding work site safety.
ASG employees are to follow their regular assigned schedules. If unsafe conditions prohibit employees from reporting to work, they are to notify their supervisors.
