FEMA Aid Opens Across Northern Mariana Islands After Sinlaku

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands - Federal disaster aid is now active across the entire Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck in mid-April, with FEMA reporting $808,088.44 in approved Individuals and Households Program aid and 204 approved applications on its disaster page as of May 3.

FEMA said the April 23 major disaster declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals and households throughout Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands. The agency said the incident period runs from April 11 through April 18.

What Happened

FEMA said assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses and other programs for individuals and families recovering from the disaster. The agency told residents with losses to file insurance claims first, then apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, by calling 671-735-1050 locally, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

The disaster page lists $103,611.95 in approved housing assistance and $704,476.49 in approved other needs assistance. FEMA's numbers are approved aid to individuals and households so far, not a total estimate of storm damage.

Public Assistance is also available to the territory, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofits for emergency work throughout the commonwealth, according to FEMA. The agency said debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be funded at 100 percent of eligible costs for 90 days.

Loan Deadlines

The Small Business Administration notice published in the Federal Register said the entire Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is eligible for physical damage and economic injury disaster loans. The notice lists Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands as primary areas for both categories.

The SBA set June 22, 2026, as the physical damage loan application deadline. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan deadline is January 25, 2027, according to the Federal Register notice.

The notice lists physical damage interest rates at 5.750 percent for homeowners with credit available elsewhere and 2.875 percent for homeowners without credit available elsewhere. It lists business physical damage rates at 8.000 percent with credit available elsewhere and 4.000 percent without credit available elsewhere.

What Sinlaku Did

NASA Applied Sciences said Sinlaku made landfall in the Northern Mariana Islands on April 14 as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 150 mph and recorded gusts reaching 185 mph. The program said Saipan and Tinian experienced widespread power blackouts, extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, and heavy flooding from more than 20 inches of rain.

NASA Earth Observatory said the VIIRS instrument on the Suomi NPP satellite captured Sinlaku on April 13 as it approached the islands. At that time, NASA said the storm carried sustained winds around 280 kilometers per hour, or 175 mph, equivalent to Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.

NASA said the storm was unusually intense for so early in the year. The Earth Observatory account said Sinlaku was the second Category 5 tropical cyclone of 2026 and one of a small number of Category 5 typhoons known to occur so early in the year.

Federal Response

NASA Applied Sciences said it worked with FEMA, the American Red Cross and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support the response. The program said it shared satellite maps and data, including power-outage assessments, landslide hazard maps and commercial satellite imagery.

NASA said on April 24 that it shared IMERG precipitation data through the NASA Disasters Portal, providing the only rainfall observations available to U.S. agencies during the response after ground radars went dark.

The FEMA declaration also named Andrew F. Grant as the federal coordinating officer for recovery operations in the affected areas. FEMA said additional designations may be made later if the territory requests them and further damage assessments warrant them.

What People Are Saying

"The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals and households throughout the entire Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands." - Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 23, 2026

"For a period of 90 days, assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be funded at 100% of the total eligible costs." - Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 23, 2026

"Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall in the Northern Mariana Islands on April 14 as a powerful Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 150 mph and recorded gusts reaching 185 mph." - NASA Applied Sciences Disasters Program, April 15, 2026 update

"Incident Period: April 11, 2026 through April 18, 2026. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: June 22, 2026. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: January 25, 2027." - Small Business Administration notice, 91 FR 23141

The Big Picture

The immediate recovery now turns on applications, inspections, debris removal and local coordination across four island areas. FEMA aid and SBA loans will not measure the full cost of Sinlaku, but the early federal numbers show household assistance has started moving.

Residents face the nearest deadline first: June 22 for SBA physical damage loans. The longer recovery will depend on how quickly federal, territorial and local officials can convert emergency funding, satellite data and damage assessments into repairs on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands.