(NMTech) — Northern Marianas Technical Institute, located in Lower Base, is recovering after experiencing flooding that temporarily disrupted campus operations and instructional activities.
The flooding occurred over the weekend following heavy rainfall that affected the Lower Base area, causing water to enter into the entire campus. To ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the campus is closed for the rest of the week and classes are cancelled while damage assessments and cleanup efforts are taking place. An official memorandum for reopening dates will be released by the end of the week.
Floodwaters impacted classrooms, offices, and shared facilities, displacing supplies and interrupting normal operations. The NMTech facilities team, in coordination with campus administration, acted swiftly to address safety concerns and initiate restoration efforts.
In response, NMTech worked closely with local agencies, emergency responders, and community partners. A special thank you to Rep. Joel Camacho and Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres for sending his staff to assist with cleanup efforts. “Your hands-on support made a real and immediate difference. We are also extremely grateful to Casa Marianas for graciously offering their workspace to NMTech staff that included free printing services for staff; and to Mr. Steve Jang for coming over to the campus with cases of water and checking in on the team.
“We (NMTech) are grateful for the outpouring of support — a powerful reminder of the strength of our community. Each and every gesture of kindness and solidarity is greatly appreciated. Thank you for standing with us, CNMI,” CEO Attao states.
NMTech previously experienced flooding in Oct. 2024 and applied the lessons learned from that incident to improve its response and operational continuity as much as possible during the most recent event. The institution implemented a coordinated two-team approach, with one team assigned to campus cleanup and restoration efforts, while a second team worked remotely to ensure that critical projects continued with minimal disruption.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of agencies, staff, and volunteers, recovery efforts are progressing steadily. NMTech encourages the community to stay informed through official announcements and extends sincere appreciation to all who supported the campus during this time, as it returns to its primary mission of workforce education and training.
