Team Rubicon has begun the process of deploying an advance team of volunteers to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which includes Saipan, after Super Typhoon Sinlaku began its exit of the Western Pacific.
As of Wednesday, April 15, the volunteers—known as Greyshirts—were staging in Hawaii, with the intent to move forward to Guam or Saipan to assess needs across all of CNMI as soon as possible. Upon arrival, the advance medical and reconnaissance team will assess damage from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, meet with decision-makers, evaluate conditions on the ground, and determine whether Team Rubicon’s support is needed.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku developed in the Western Pacific Ocean as a powerful tropical cyclone in early April. At 7 a.m local ChST, Wednesday, April 15, the center of Typhoon Sinlaku crossed about 35 miles northwest of Tinian and Saipan, and about 135 miles north-northeast of Guam. The storm had sustained winds of 130 mph. As a Category 4 typhoon, it brought devastating winds and storm surge to Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.
By Thursday morning, local CNMI time, the outer edge of the eye of Typhoon Sinlaku was northwest of Tinian and Saipan. The typhoon’s slow movement, coupled with an expanded wind field, kept Guam within tropical storm force winds and Saipan and Tinian in the destructive tropical storm force winds overnight.
A flood watch continued for Tinian and Saipan on Thursday, with ongoing hazardous surf at around 10 to 12 feet. While surf was expected to slowly subside along east-facing reefs, wind-driven waves meant a coastal flood warning remained in effect.
Team Rubicon’s advance team will comprise experienced Greyshirts representing the nonprofit’s medical capabilities as well as nonmedical capabilities such as chainsaw operations, debris removal, or expedient home repair. The advance team’s task will be to engage and coordinate closely with local officials to determine unmet needs that Team Rubicon might be able to help fulfill with a full-scale volunteer response. While their primary focus will first be on assessing unmet needs within the healthcare system, the advance team will also be on the lookout for opportunities to support with nonmedical skillsets.
