SAIPAN — President Donald J. Trump has signed the major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds announced Friday morning in a video posted to social media.
“President Trump has just signed the major disaster declaration for the CNMI as requested by the CNMI government,” King-Hinds said. “This is the major first step to be able to get the assistance that our community desperately needs at this very critical time.”
King-Hinds said her office is preparing a fact sheet to explain exactly what the declaration means for residents and will release it as soon as it is ready.
The major disaster declaration unlocks FEMA individual assistance, including direct financial help to households affected by Typhoon Sinlaku. The declaration covers Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands.
King-Hinds has been in Washington pressing for the declaration since the storm made landfall April 14, sending letters to President Trump, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow and U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General David Steiner on behalf of the CNMI. DHS Secretary Mullin had signed off on the package earlier this week before it was sent to the president.