SAIPAN – The CNMI Joint Information Center reported Monday that 485 temporary tents and 45 temporary roofs have been installed across the islands through the federal S.T.R.O.N.G. mission, with 98% of Saipan’s primary power lines now energized while all of Tinian’s electrical feeders remain offline more than a month after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
The Sustainment of Temporary Resilience and Operational Needs on Ground mission, known as S.T.R.O.N.G., is coordinated by the CNMI government, island mayors’ offices, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in conjunction with FEMA, the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Forest Service, the JIC said. The program provides typhoon-damaged households with temporary non-congregate sheltering while their homes undergo permanent repairs.
Tent installations to date include 359 on Saipan and 126 on Tinian, with none recorded on Rota. Temporary roof installations include 31 on Saipan, 11 on Tinian and three on Rota.
On Saipan, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has energized 98% of the primary power lines, with all major feeders restored except Feeder 4 at 80%, the JIC said. Total available power generation has reached 34.7 megawatts, surpassing the approximately 30-megawatt pre-storm peak demand.
Despite the generation milestone, full power restoration has not been achieved due to ongoing work on damaged poles, transmission infrastructure and lateral lines throughout the villages, the JIC said. As of May 16, 631 poles remained down with 107 replaced, 552 transformers were down and 705 crossarms were damaged.
On Tinian, all electrical feeders remain offline with 1,059 customers without power, the JIC said. Feeder assessments are 90% complete, with 111 poles and 55 transformers confirmed down.
Saipan water production stood at 84% as of Saturday, with approximately 90% of customers receiving 24-hour service and 10% receiving non-24-hour service. 73% of wells and facilities are online, the JIC said. The boil water notice remains in effect for Saipan. On Tinian, water service is at 99% and the boil water notice was officially cancelled May 6.
The CNMI shelter population has fallen to 139, a decrease of 56 from the previous report. The largest shelter is Ada Gym on Saipan with 58 residents, followed by Kagman Community Center with 34 and the Office on Aging with 22. Smaller populations remain at non-congregate sheltering sites at Crowne Plaza, Finasisu Terraces and Tanapag Youth Center on Saipan, and at Western Lodge on Tinian.
The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority has completed 1,012 emergency transports from April 10 through May 18, the JIC said.
The Saipan International Airport is operating on a limited daytime schedule with generator power and partial utilities. United Guam service has resumed, and MACS and SMA are operating inter-island flights. The Tinian International Airport is restricted to humanitarian flights only due to power and generator issues. The Rota International Airport is open with normal operations.
The Port of Saipan and Port of Tinian are open for commercial traffic with unrestricted cargo operations. The Rota West Harbor remains partially restricted with Berth 2 suspended and Berth 1 limited to daytime general cargo only.