Pocatello man seeks relief for typhoon victims

Pocatello resident Jayson Tauegmai is making a call to action for his community to help his home country.

The last time Tauegmai was back home in the outer islands of Yap was in 1993. His photo album is filled with happy memories with his family. Recent pictures of his island, though, show the aftermath of a disaster.

Last week, Typhoon Maysak ripped through islands in the Micronesian states of Chuuk and Yap. By the time it hit Yap it had reached category 5 status, with winds sustaining speeds of 160 miles per hour.

“I think this is the most devastation I’ve seen come to our islands and it’s pretty bad,” Tauegmai said.

Photos he’s found on social media sites show his high school in ruins, many houses without roofs and whole coconut trees uprooted and thrown in the ocean.

Tauegmai has a brother and two sisters on the island and he still hasn’t heard from them.

“You don’t know what going on on the ground,” he said. “It’s very hard to just sit there and wait for them.”

So he’s decided to take action.

“My initial thought was just to help out my family. Then when I saw the devastation I knew that everybody’s gonna be in the same boat,” he said.

Tauegmai started a fund at Ireland Bank and plans to place a donation can at a gas station in the future. He’s confident in the community he’s lived in for more than a decade will help.

“Idaho is a beautiful place and (has) beautiful people, I’m sure there will be something,” he said.

Right now, the immediate need is for food and water. Given how far away Idaho is from the islands, Tauegmai suggests money is the best way to help. People can donate to the Red Cross in Boise or in Guam, but be sure to specify it’s for Typhoon Maysak victims when doing so.

You can call Tauegmai at (208) 918-7538 to find out how to help or if you have any questions.