The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $10.1 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance for the Commonwealth, clearing a major hurdle for workers who lost jobs or income after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
The award, totaling $10,162,706, covers all municipalities — Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands.
Del. Kimberlyn King‑Hinds announced the approval Saturday in a video message, calling the award a critical step toward helping residents who “lost income or their jobs during or as a result of the typhoon.”
But she cautioned that payments will not begin immediately.
“Just like the DNAP, it’s gonna take some time to put together the administration of this program,” King‑Hinds said, urging residents to be patient as the CNMI government builds the procedures and systems required to distribute the federally funded aid.
The CNMI Department of Labor must now finalize its operational plan, staffing, and intake process before applications can open. Unlike states and territories with existing unemployment insurance systems, the Commonwealth must create a new platform specifically for DUA compliance.
The FEMA award arrives as the CNMI continues recovering from a series of typhoons that disrupted employment, damaged infrastructure, and strained household finances across the islands this year.
King‑Hinds said her office will continue coordinating with FEMA and CNMI agencies to ensure the program is implemented “as quickly and clearly as possible.”
Federal officials are expected to release additional public guidance on eligibility, application procedures, and timelines in the coming days.
