News

With much still unclear in the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, Gov. David M. Atapang nevertheless hosted the first press conference on April 25, at which he thanked President Donald Trump for approving the disaster declaration, and asked the people of the NMI to be patient.

CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed soldiers from the 249th Engineering Battalion, civilian personnel with the Temporary Emergency Power Planning and Response Team, and contractors to the Northern Mariana Islands to conduct damage assessments and generator installations.

CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — Multiple U.S. mainland media are reporting that the body of one of the six missing crew members from the Mariana cargo ship has been recovered. The ship was found overturned.

The APL Islander arrived in Saipan at 7 a.m. this morning – April 23 CHamoru Standard Time, becoming the first vessel to call at the Port of Saipan after it was officially reopened by the U.S. Coast Guard after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — The 24th Northern Marianas Legislature scheduled an emergency session for April 23, to address recovery requirements following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

The Government of Guam has formally requested federal authorization to activate the Guam National Guard to support disaster response and recovery operations in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, according to an April 20 release. The activation is under Title 32 of the U.S. Code — ensuring Guam National Guard members can operate in support of disaster response with federal backing, the release said.

The Trump Administration is moving to fast-track offshore mining in the waters of the Mariana Islands. The move is detailed in a newly-release U.S. Department of the Interior document. 

The Francisco C. Ada international airport in Saipan is open primarily for relief and rescue flights only.

APL’s Oceania arrived in Guam’s port early in the afternoon of April 19, delayed a day by a buoy located out of place near the harbor entrance.

Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky, commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, is well aware of the status of Guam and the islands of the Northern Mariana Islands after the storm, he told the Journal on April 16.