Follow-Up: Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for the Northern Mariana Islands as Typhoon Champi Approaches; FEMA to Coordinate Federal Aid
WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Oct. 17 that President Donald J. Trump has approved an emergency declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), making federal disaster assistance available to supplement local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Champi — since intensified into a typhoon — beginning Oct. 16, 2026, and continuing.
According to FEMA, the President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, with the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and providing appropriate assistance to save lives, protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Rota, Saipan and Tinian.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. Andrew F. Grant has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected areas. FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Champi rapidly intensified this week in the waters near Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Per earlier National Weather Service and Joint Typhoon Warning Center updates, the storm has strengthened to Category 4 strength, with Guam and Rota under a typhoon warning and Tinian and Saipan under a tropical storm warning and typhoon watch; it is forecast to pass just south of Guam early Sunday local time. The governors of Guam and the CNMI each requested federal emergency declarations on Friday.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：联合台风警报中心 JTWC 10月17日发布的台风Champi路径预报图，风暴中心位于关岛与罗塔岛附近海域。美国海军联合台风警报中心发布，公共领域。Chart: Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast track for Typhoon Champi, issued Oct. 17 (public domain).
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