Historical background of the NMI Chapter

The Northern Mariana Islands Chapter was chartered on October 8, 1978. The first Chairman was Gilbert C. Ada, who served for six years. During these early years the Guam Chapter assisted the NMI Chapter in development of its services. In 1986, after a reorganization plan was implemented, a new 6 member Board of Directors was appointed. Under new leadership, a Chapter headquarters was set-up in a war damaged Japanese power plant near the Saipan International Airport. Currently the Chapter has 3 paid staff members and a Board of Directors of 19 members.
The Chapter is responsible for services on the islands of Rota, Tinian and Saipan as well as the Northern Islands.

The Chapter office site is unique in that it occupies a former 200 KW Japanese bombproof power plant buit around 1940. It is equipped with 12 steel 1-ton hinged window coverings which are still utilized during Typhoons. The adjacent emergency shelter was a diesel oil storage facility and the basement of a newly constructed Disaster Services warehouse was formerly a water cooling tank. The power plant supplied electricity for the nearby Japanese As Lito Airfield complex.

The Chapter office is located on Airport Road just North of the Airport terminal.

The American Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the generousity of all the people and businesses of the Commonwealth for support.