Three islands are experiencing three very different versions of recovery nearly two weeks after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, as Saipan continues to struggle through widespread outages, Tinian remains entirely without power, and Rota edges close to full restoration.
On Saipan, 15,624 customers — including 11,769 residential homes — remain without electricity, according to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.
Damage assessments show 662 power poles down, leaving major feeder lines out of service and slowing the pace of restoration across the island.
Federal teams from the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA are conducting joint assessments to support hazardous material cleanup, including damaged transformers and other debris scattered across neighborhoods and roadways.
CUC said assessments at Power Plants 1 and 2 are complete, with engine‑drying now underway. Both plants are estimated to need about one week before full restoration. Power Plant 3 completed a successful test run, though officials have not provided a timeline for when it will return to service. Power Plant 4 remains under repair, with crews estimating three to four weeks before full restoration. The plant is currently supplying power to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation.
Water service on Saipan remains limited. CUC reports that 33% of customers — 2,909 out of 8,758 — currently have running water, with only 28 of 138 wells online. Most wells remain offline due to the islandwide power outage, forcing crews to rely on generators to push water into the system.
Tinian faces a more severe electrical crisis. The island remains 100% without power, with 245 poles down and 1,075 customers still offline. Water service, however, is 98% restored, though some households may experience low pressure as crews continue balancing the system.
Rota is closest to normalcy. Feeders 1 and 2 are 98% energized, with only minor connections awaiting repair. Water service on the island is fully restored, according to local officials.
CUC said restoration timelines remain fluid as crews continue clearing debris, replacing poles and stabilizing generation capacity. Officials warn that full power restoration on Saipan will take time given the scale of damage, but federal and local teams are working around the clock to bring critical services back online.
