President declares Saipan disaster area

It's now four days after Typhoon Soudelor slammed our neighbors to the north in Saipan, and today they got the much-needed declaration from President Barack Obama. The last presidential disaster declaration for the Northern Marianas was following Typhoon Nabi in 2005, signed two months after the storm.

Meanwhile, according to CNMI congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan, help is already on its way as the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched a barge from Guam with eleven electrical generators in response to a request from the acting governor. The generators, are set to arrive on Saturday, and  are expected to help get the island water system back into operation.

Additionally, FEMA has also loaded the barge with water, meals, and emergency shelter supplies and  three forklifts.

Also en route to Saipan is the USS Ashland, which will be used to transport cargo in support of recovery efforts.