By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth government and its federal partners on Wednesday formally opened the Survivor Recovery Center at the Susupe multi-purpose center, establishing the site as a central hub for residents seeking federal and local assistance following recent typhoons.
The center’s launch comes as the CNMI continues to recover from Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck the islands in mid-April and caused widespread power and water outages across Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The storm downed 624 power poles, about 5% of Saipan’s hardened inventory, and damaged 552 of the island’s 4,243 transformers, roughly 13% of the system. Communications towers and multiple cell sites were also destroyed, prompting a major disaster declaration and triggering federal assistance.
Gov. David M. Apatang called the opening “a very important day” for the Commonwealth’s recovery efforts, thanking FEMA, the American Red Cross, Guam Power Authority crews, CUC line workers and local volunteers “who are continually working on a daily basis to get our Commonwealth back to normalcy.”
“This morning, we’re opening up the application process for assistance from FEMA,” the governor said, urging residents to come prepared with documentation. “Take advantage of this program. Make sure you get your documents ready. Don’t wait until the last minute. This is an opportunity for you to come and seek help, whether for home repair or whatever assistance you may need. They are here to help us.”
FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Andrew Grant said the agency’s mission is to deliver the maximum level of support authorized under the major disaster declaration.
“My role here is to make sure that we’re providing the maximum amount of federal assistance under the major disaster declaration that President Trump authorized at the request of the governor,” Grant said. “We’re here to help everyone in need.”
Grant said FEMA has already been providing aid for immediate needs and is now shifting toward long-term recovery. He emphasized that the Susupe center is designed to give survivors direct, in-person access to assistance.
“This facility represents a key point where individuals can come in, share their needs and receive support,” he said.
Grant encouraged residents to register at the center, online at disasterassistance.gov or through FEMA’s helpline.
“We’re actually up to more than 5,000 registrants, and we’ve already obligated funds to assist survivors with specific needs,” he said. “We don’t view individuals who live on Tinian any different than on Saipan or Rota. All three, we see the same way.”
Governor’s Authorized Representative Patrick Guerrero highlighted how quickly the center was established and the staffing behind it.
“We have a staff of about 15 from the local government under the Office of the Governor, alongside about 30 FEMA personnel who are here to make sure you get the assistance that you need,” Guerrero said. “This is maybe three weeks since the disaster, and it’s the quickest I’ve seen a Survivor Recovery Center set up in past events. It’s usually after 30 days, so we’re glad that we’re here now.”
Guerrero said demand for services was immediate and steady from the moment doors opened.
“Since eight o’clock this morning, we’ve already had more than 100 people walk in — some new registrants, others needing this type of assistance face-to-face, one-on-one to continue their registration process, and people with needs they couldn’t address through other channels,” he said.
He also confirmed that Survivor Recovery Centers for Tinian and Rota are being prepared.
“Tinian — we’ve identified the Tinian Youth Center as a site that will be opening very soon,” Guerrero said. “We’re setting that place up with power and other needs so that we can extend this program as well.”
“And Rota, we’re identifying how best to deliver that service there through the mayor’s office,” he added. “I believe CJ Bermudes and some of his team members will be making their way to Tinian this afternoon, and then to Rota tomorrow. So it will be available in all three islands.”
The Survivor Recovery Center will serve as a one-stop location for residents to access recovery support services, including:
• FEMA Individual Assistance
• U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans
• American Red Cross financial assistance
Hours of operation (beginning May 6, 2026)
Monday–Friday
• 8 a.m.–11 a.m. — Reserved for persons with disabilities
• 11 a.m.–7 p.m. — General public
Saturday–Sunday
• 8 a.m.–9 a.m. — Reserved for persons with disabilities
• 9 a.m.–5 p.m. — General public
Looking ahead, Apatang said water service has largely been restored and that full power restoration remains the top priority to reopen schools and return to normal life. He urged residents to remain patient and united.
“Let’s just work together,” he said. “This is not the first typhoon. This is the third major typhoon we’ve had in several years, and we recovered, and we’re going to recover again.”
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
