Super Typhoon Yutu Relief Efforts
Eli Russ, the deputy assistant director for the American Red Cross response to Super Typhoon Yutu recovery operations in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, shares ARC data with U.S. Army Soldiers with the 9th Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve, currently assigned to Joint Task Group-Saipan, Task Force-West, Nov. 29, 2018, on the support given to CNMI residents. The Red Cross and 9th MSC Soldiers partnered to conduct direct distribution of food, water and other essential supplies to Saipan residents. After Super Typhoon Yutu hit the islands of Saipan and Tinian Oct. 24, several federal agencies immediately began a coordinated disaster response effort, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense and local government, to help the people of these islands recover. DOD forces used in the initial typhoon response have begun redeploying at the direction of FEMA, based on the needs of the local government.