BY DANIEL M. PEREZ
Journal Staff
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The 24th Northern Marianas Legislature scheduled an emergency session for April 23, to address recovery requirements following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. The legislative action comes as utility providers and emergency management agencies report significant progress in infrastructure restoration across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Critical recovery milestones and operational status updates include the following:
Journal Staff
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The 24th Northern Marianas Legislature scheduled an emergency session for April 23, to address recovery requirements following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. The legislative action comes as utility providers and emergency management agencies report significant progress in infrastructure restoration across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.Critical recovery milestones and operational status updates include the following:
- Energy Infrastructure: The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. confirmed that 604 power poles are down on Saipan. While damage assessments for primary feeder lines are 100% complete, secondary line assessments are still ongoing. On Tinian, all power feeders remain offline with 1,075 customers without service. Rota has seen more progress, with 100% of the primary lines on Feeder 1 and 90% on Feeder 2 now energized.
- Water and Sanitation: Saipan’s water production is currently at 4.1 million gallons per day, or 40% of its normal capacity, with approximately 21% of customers receiving service. High-service areas like Capitol Hill and Gualo Rai report 90% and 85% coverage, respectively, while other areas remain at 0%. The NMI Joint Information Center scheduled a bottled water distribution for one case per family at the Airport Field on April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tinian’s water system is 90% online, though a precautionary boil water notice remains in effect for both Tinian and Rota.
- Healthcare Services: Samaritan’s Purse, in coordination with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., established an outpatient clinic providing primary care, wound care, and emergency services at no cost. The clinic, located in the parking lot across from the emergency room, operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. This follows the restoration of regular outpatient services at CHCC’s main facilities earlier Wednesday after temporary generator issues were resolved.
- Telecommunications: Docomo Pacific reported that mobile restoration has reached 100% on Rota, while newly restored sites are active at the Kensington Hotel on Saipan and the Tinian Airport. On Guam, 100% of mobile cell sites are operational, with the internet infrastructure reaching 93% capacity as commercial power is restored to residential areas.
- Logistics and aviation: In the NMI, the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport remains restricted to daytime operations on generator power, though United Airlines plans to resume daily service April 23.
- Commercial Operations: Shell stations in Susupe, Dandan, and Highway Express resumed service until 6.30 p.m. McDonald’s Saipan is serving customers from 6 a.m. to midnight, and its drive-thru facility remains open 24 hours a day to assist residents and first responders.
