SAIPAN — Commonwealth Utilities Corporation crews energized the Kiya substation’s T1 and T2 transformers Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m., with the Kiya 1 and Kiya 2 feeders anticipated to come online Sunday afternoon, the Joint Information Center said in its 29th situation report on Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery.
The substation milestone follows weeks of restringing and reframing primary lines across southern Saipan villages. Kiya 1 primary lines are 30% energized and Kiya 2 lines are at 0%, with both feeders awaiting energization from the substation. Kiya 3 is at 90% and Kiya 4 at 50%.
CUC also closed all water filling stations effective Saturday, May 9, citing steady restoration progress that has returned running water throughout most of the distribution system. Approximately 80% of CUC water customers on Saipan are now receiving 24-hour service, with 20% on scheduled service. The boil water notice on Saipan remains in effect.
Saipan water production stood at 9.2 million gallons per day, or 80% of the 11.5-million-gallon target. Of 137 wells and facilities, 97 are online: 23 on the CUC power grid, 31 on CUC generators and 43 on FEMA generators.
POWER RESTORATION
Across Saipan’s power system, Feeders 1 and 3 are 98% energized, Feeder 2 at 50%, Feeder 4 at 75% and Feeder 7 at 5%. Total available generation capacity stood at 26 megawatts against pre-storm peak demand of approximately 30 megawatts.
Tinian’s power system remains 100% offline with all feeders down. Feeder assessments are 90% complete with 111 poles and 55 transformers confirmed down as of May 3. CUC has 1,059 customers without power on Tinian. A CUC Saipan power generation team has joined Guam Power Authority staff on Tinian to continue megger testing of the power generation controls.
Rota power is back to normal operations with 100% of primary lines energized on Feeders 1 and 2. Three residential and two commercial customers remain without power.
WATER AND WASTEWATER
Tinian water service is 99% online, with the boil water notice cancelled as of May 6. Rota water is 100% online with the precautionary boil water notice cancelled as of April 22.
Saipan wastewater operations have brought nine facilities back on the CUC power grid, including the Sadog Tasi Wastewater Treatment Plant. Ten lift stations are running on CUC generators, four on portable generators and 14 on FEMA generators. The Fats, Oils and Grease program has resumed.
DEBRIS REMOVAL
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working with FEMA and CNMI partners, will begin residential debris removal in 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.
The Kagman Temporary Green Waste Disposal Site and the As Gonno Temporary Debris Waste Disposal Site are accepting residential green waste daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Solid Waste Office at (670) 322-2745.
SHELTERS
Shelter population across Saipan and Tinian dropped to 254 residents and one pet, a decrease of 62 from the previous report. Marianas High School holds the largest population at 63, followed by Koblerville Elementary School at 59 and Kagman Community Center at 46. Tinian’s Western Lodge non-congregate shelter has six clients.
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Nutrition Assistance Program received USDA approval for emergency waivers, including a 63% automatic benefit replacement for all active April 2026 NAP recipients. No application is required, and funds will be credited to EBT cards within five to 10 business days. NAP benefits can be used to purchase hot, prepared foods from authorized retailers through May 27 territory-wide. Contact NAP at (670) 237-2800.
FEMA Individual Assistance applications are open at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA App, or by calling (671) 735-1050 or (800) 621-3362. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans of up to $500,000 for homeowners, $100,000 for personal property and up to $2 million for businesses and nonprofits at sba.gov/disaster.
The Samaritan’s Purse continues free potable water distribution at the Garapan Fishing Base and Sugar Dock daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no limit. A FEMA-supported reverse osmosis station at Paupau Beach and Hopwood Middle School operates daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a 100-gallon-per-vehicle limit.
The American Red Cross opens Sinlaku financial assistance sites Monday across Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Call (670) 234-3459 for information.
SCHOOLS
CNMI Public School System schools remain closed as cleanup and recovery continue. The Child Nutrition Program Grab-and-Go meal distribution served 4,580 breakfast meals and 4,580 lunch meals Thursday, May 7.
High school graduations will proceed as scheduled, beginning with Tinian High School on May 27, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Senior High School on May 29, Marianas High School on June 2, Kagman High School on June 3, Da’ok Academy on June 4 and Saipan Southern High School on June 5. All ceremonies are at 4 p.m. Middle and junior high promotion ceremonies run May 27 through June 5 at 9 a.m.
Northern Marianas College is ending the Spring 2026 term early. NMC has activated a student hotline at (670) 285-2059 or (670) 285-7651, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Northern Marianas Technical Institute classes remain on hold.
Online students have completed 13 of 14 required weeks of coursework, with the final week waived. Advanced Placement exams are scheduled May 27 through May 29.
AIRPORTS
Saipan International Airport continues daylight-only operations because of damage to navigational aids. United Airlines has resumed daily Guam service, with arrival at 8:50 a.m. and departure at 9:55 a.m. Micronesian Air Cargo/Connection Services and Star Marianas Air are operating daytime commuter and cargo flights.
United has suspended its Narita-Saipan flights from May 7 through July 10 because of operational complexities from Sinlaku.
Francisco Manglona Borja/Tinian International Airport is open for humanitarian flights only with limited daytime operations. Tinian Airport is again without power because of issues with the FEMA generator. Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport on Rota is open and operational.
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY
The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority logged 749 transports between April 10 and May 10. Saipan’s Fixed Route Blue Line 1B runs hourly from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on a modified daylight schedule. Call-A-Ride services on Saipan are limited to shelter, hospital, clinic and recovery site transport. Rota and Tinian Call-A-Ride services run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. fare-free under a grant-funded pilot. Reservations: (670) 236-2682.
All beaches on Saipan and Tinian are open, though debris may still be in the water. All Rota beaches remain closed. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles remains closed and all driver’s license and registration fees are waived during the closure.
