SAIPAN — Customer water access on Saipan climbed from 49% to 75% over the past reporting cycle, with 6,582 of 8,758 customers now restored, the CNMI Joint Information Center said in its Thursday update on Sinlaku recovery operations.
Water production reached 8.9 million gallons per day, or 77% of total capacity. Of 137 wells and facilities tracked, 89 are back online, with 21 on the CUC power grid, 29 on CUC generators and 39 on FEMA generators. The boil water notice for Saipan remains in effect.
On Tinian, the boil water notice was officially canceled May 6. Water service is 99% online, serving 861 customers. Maui 2 well is running on backup generator. Engineering completed a damage assessment of the water tank and Maui 2 booster station on April 29, with cost estimates pending for repairs to the tank roof. Rota water is 100% restored at 863 customers, with the precautionary boil notice canceled April 22.
Power restoration on Saipan continues, with 15,624 customers, including 11,769 residential customers, still without service. A total of 624 power poles are confirmed down. EPA and FEMA crews supporting hazardous materials cleanup have retrieved 46 damaged transformers as of April 30. Feeders 1 and 3 are at 98% energized following a scheduled outage to prepare for additional generation from the CUC Power Plant and Aggreko. Feeder 7 is at 40%, Kiya 3 at 90%, Kiya 1 at 30%, and Feeder 4, Kiya 2 and Kiya 4 remain at 0%. Aggreko coordination has begun at CUC Plant 1, with heating of controls completed and ongoing testing in preparation for additional load.
Tinian’s feeders all remain offline, with 1,059 customers out. Feeder assessments are 90% complete; 111 poles and 55 transformers are confirmed down. CUC’s Saipan Power Generation team arrived on Tinian on May 6 to assess the power plant and develop an action plan. The station backup generator that became operational on April 29 was temporarily de-energized May 4 due to rainfall, with drying and heating work resuming May 5. On Rota, 100% of primary lines are energized on Feeders 1 and 2, with only 8 customers without power due to individual infrastructure damage.
The Sadog Tasi Wastewater Treatment Plant returned to CUC power grid service on May 5. Fourteen lift stations are running on CUC generators, 10 on portable generators, and nine facilities are operating on FEMA generators.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with FEMA and CNMI partners, is preparing to begin residential debris removal operations on Saipan this week, the JIC said. Residents should sort storm-related debris into categories and place it in the public right-of-way within 10 feet of the road. A neighborhood-by-neighborhood pickup schedule will be announced.
Commodity distribution continues. The next scheduled distribution is May 8 at Garapan Fishing Base starting at 9 a.m. until supplies last. Free potable water distribution remains available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Paupau Beach and Hopwood Middle School, with a 100-gallon per vehicle limit. Samaritan’s Purse distributes water at Garapan Fishing Base and Sugar Dock daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no limit.
DCCA’s Nutrition Assistance Program has received USDA approval for emergency waivers. All active April 2026 NAP recipients will receive a 63% automatic benefit replacement, credited to EBT cards within 5 to 10 business days. A hot food waiver is in effect through May 27, allowing NAP benefits to be used for hot, prepared foods from authorized retailers territory-wide.
Shell’s Susupe and Puerto Rico stations opened May 7. The Dandan and San Roque stations closed at midnight May 6. Shell Highway Express remains open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The shelter population stands at 397, a decrease of two from the prior count. Kagman Community Center houses 60 individuals, with three transfers from Dandan School set to bring occupancy to 63. World Central Kitchen senior meal support has concluded; the Office on Aging will assume full responsibility for meal delivery to homebound elders.
Cellular service has been restored to Capitol Hill Homestead. The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority has provided 621 transports between April 10 and May 6.
Saipan International Airport remains limited to daytime operations only due to damaged navigational aids. Jetway #2 is operational, with Jetway #6 under repair. Tinian International Airport is open for humanitarian flights only and is again without power due to FEMA generator issues. Rota’s airport is open and operational.