Reaching out

Even before Saipan was struck by Super Typhoon Sinlaku — its third 150 mph storm in just over a decade — small businesses were already grappling with a prolonged economic downturn marked by declining revenues, shrinking customer bases, and persistent operational challenges.

United Airlines has suspended flights on the Saipan-Narita route from May 7 through July 10.

The Northern Mariana Islands’ fragile post-Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery is colliding with a renewed fiscal crunch, as the government proposes to operate on just above $100 million for fiscal 2027 amid declining revenues and mounting obligations.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power and water facilities on April 26, to conduct preliminary damage assessments following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.