‘Basically anything that was tinned out here is destroyed’ as Tinian evaluates Sinlaku damage

“We survived, of course, the storm. Now, all efforts are focused on the recovery part of it,” said Allen Perez, chief of staff to Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, as the island began taking stock of the damage left by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

Perez, who rode out the storm with municipal officials, gave an honest personal assessment on the damage brought by the super typhoon in an interview last Friday, April 17, with Marianas Press.

“I’m not sure if we're going to have as much damage as Yutu. Now, in terms of the extent of the damage, yeah, basically anything that was tinned out here is destroyed.

He also did not mince words when asked how Sinlaku compared to past disasters.

“Okay, so Soudelor didn’t hit Tinian. Yutu, actually, I think this one was worse,” he said, referring to Super Typhoon Soudelor in 2015 and Super Typhoon Yutu in 2019. “And the reason why is because it hung around for so long.”

Still, he noted a key distinction.

“So Yutu, of course, but on the other side, after Yutu, we did a lot of hardening and there was a lot of, you know, public assistance that came in. So I’m not sure if we’re going to have as much damage as Yutu.”

What is clear, however, is the widespread impact on vulnerable structures.

“Now, in terms of the extent of the damage, yeah, basically anything that was tinned out here is destroyed,” Perez said. “So we’re going to have to go through that whole process one more time.”

He added that while Sinlaku may not ultimately surpass Yutu in total destruction, it was more unsettling in the moment.

“But when you compare the two, this one I think was a little bit more scary. But, again, I think we were a little bit more prepared for this one.”

Perez pointed to the storm’s erratic track as a complicating factor.

“The trick on this one, though, is, you know, like on Saturday, it was tracking to Guam. And then it moved northwest so fast that, you know, I’m sure in Saipan also, a few people were caught off guard,” he said. “But then when it started going north and then it started hitting Rota, and then next thing you know Tinian and Saipan, then, you know, it was a scramble at the last minute to board up, especially for a super typhoon.”

Despite the late rush, Perez said the island avoided the worst-case scenario in terms of loss of life and catastrophic structural failures.

“But all in all, I think our people are fine,” he said. “You know, we’re obviously working on getting the water back. Power is going to take some time. We understand that.”

Recovery operations are now in full swing, with municipal staff deployed across the island.

“The mayor’s hanging in there. He’s doing an incredible job in terms of trying to, you know, coordinate this recovery effort.”

Perez acknowledged that Tinian faces unique logistical hurdles.

“The biggest question that we have right now is, of course, available resources and, you know, how soon will they be able to come to Tinian.”

Even so, he emphasized that experience from Yutu is guiding the response.

“Yutu was eight years ago. We’ve got some of the same people in place, myself, one of them, that were part of Yutu. So we know what we need to do.”

For residents eager for assistance, Perez urged patience.

“So, of course, you know, similar to Yutu, we know that everybody is suffering,” he said. “At the same time, in order for the [Mayor Operations Center] to do their job in the recovery, we just need to ask… just to be patient, let us do our job.”

He added, “We have a very systematic approach to this. Like I said, we were here for Yutu. We know what needs to be done.”

Schools, homes, and businesses take a hit

At Northern Mariana Islands International School, principal Catherine Barja described structural damage tied to water intrusion.

“I think the roof fell off because it got wet,” she said. “I think the third floor was flooded… so it got wet, so it caved in.”

She added that preparations ahead of the storm helped limit losses.

“Luckily, the smart boards were put on the other side… because I asked all the teachers if we can prepare and cover it.”

Still, reopening remains uncertain.

“I hope not, but I think we have no choice because there’s no power, there’s no water,” Barja said. “So hopefully we’ll open probably Tuesday. I’m not sure.”

She also confirmed damage to renewable energy infrastructure.

“Yeah, it was ripped off,” she said of solar panels. “I think it’s going to… I heard it’s like $14,000 cost.”

In San Jose, apartment manager Dwight Canosa recounted a long ordeal.

“Starting from Monday… Tuesday night, we were already evacuated,” he said. “Almost two and a half days.”

He said damage to one particular unit was severe

“That’s why the ceiling fell. Because of the water,” Canosa said. “More, maybe,” he added when asked if damages exceeded $5,000 for all units.

For Canosa, it was a first.

“First time, yes,” he said. “I won’t forget this.”

Businesses also took a hit, though not all saw destruction on the scale of past typhoons.

Akiko Kamegai, owner of Oleai Beach Bar & Grill, said flooding was widespread at the landmark famous for its majestic sunset diners overlooking the Saipan Lagoon.

“We got some tin roofs blown away and everywhere flooded. Office, kitchen, dining, everywhere flooded,” she said. “Maybe like $10,000, about,” when asked about the cost of the flooding.

She compared Sinlaku to earlier storms.

“I don’t think so. We’ve had it worse during Yutu, I think, was worst,” Kamegai said. “This typhoon, we don’t have any trees actually fell on to our business establishments.”

Her husband and co-owner, Seiichi Kamegai, struck a hopeful note despite the setbacks.

“I really, really love to see them again here to have cold beers now,” he said about their message to customers. “But right now, it’s only a dream to me… in the very near future, I would love to see them back here again.”

Back at the Tinian municipal level, Perez underscored the long road ahead.

“This is a long road ahead for us,” he said, echoing the hopes of tens of thousands of residents of Saipan and Tinian.