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Federated States of Micronesia: Typhoon Maysak DREF No MDRFM001 - Final Report

Countries
Micronesia
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
Origin
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A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

Typhoon Maysak formed from a tropical depression off Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) which tracked west and intensified, making landfall in Chuuk lagoon on 29 March 2015 with damaging winds and torrential rainfall which also affected many of the outer islands. Maysak continued west making landfall again at Ulithi atoll in the north-west of Yap State on 1 April 2015. Upgraded to a super typhoon with sustained winds of over 160 miles per hour, significant damage was reported to homes, infrastructure and agricultural resources Strong, destructive winds were also reported on neighboring islands and the main island of Yap. Five deaths were reported in Yap State and a total of 35,000 people affected in the two States.

On 30 March, the President of FSM issued an emergency declaration for both States and activated the National Emergency Taskforce to coordinate all response efforts, including the mobilization of national government resources and international assistance. The Government of FSM subsequently released USD $1.5M to support the relief effort to cover immediate food, water and NFI distributions. USAID followed with support to longer term relief of over USD $2M in emergency relief supplies, water and sanitation, shelter, food and logistics under the Compact of Free Association that exists between FSM and the United States.

Two additional weather systems - Typhoon Noul and Tropical Storm Dolphin - followed in quick succession impacting Yap again and the States of Kosrae and Pohnpei. Some damage was caused to homes and infrastructure.

The initial Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of CHF 150,382 approved 4 April 2015 was to enable distribution of relief supplies for 1,000 households. The number of households was revised to 2,157 after further assessments, for which the DREF supported mobilization and logistical support for MRCS staff and volunteers to distribute the National Society’s prepositioned emergency supplies and donated goods and the replenishment of its stock of non-food items for 400 households. The DREF was revised in June 2015 to CHF 147,027. The unspent balance of CHF 30,236 will be returned to the DREF pot. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), on behalf of the Micronesia Red Cross Society (MRCS), would like to thank Canadian Red Cross Society/ Canadian Government (DFATD) and New Zealand Government for their generous contribution to the replenishment of this DREF.