NMTech eyes late June reopening after Sinlaku damage

The Northern Marianas Technical Institute, or NMTech, is aiming to reopen by late June, with CEO Jodina Attao saying the school is working to get students back on track while assessing extensive storm damage to its campus.

“We're hoping that the school will reopen in the latter part of June,” Attao said, adding that administrators plan to accelerate spring courses so students can complete certifications they had already begun.

Attao said classes are currently on hold as the institution focuses on cleanup and recovery, but emphasized that continuing instruction remains a priority, especially in the aftermath of a disaster when rebuilding skills are in demand.

“Especially during, you know, after storms, everybody wants to rebuild and you need skills to rebuild,” she said.

She said the school’s student services and marketing teams are coordinating outreach through WhatsApp and phone calls to check on students’ welfare and keep them informed about reopening plans. Staff are also conducting basic needs and mental health check-ins as the community recovers.

“We're hoping that everybody is safe and well and being able to handle their basic necessities on a daily,” Attao said in a message to students, faculty, and stakeholders.

She added that employees are working reduced hours due to ongoing power and water outages, allowing them time to secure essential needs for their families.

Attao said NMTech may also consider offering limited skills training off-site, focusing on basic construction-related skills that can support disaster recovery efforts.

A damage assessment by NMTech safety officer Travis Jones shows the campus sustained widespread flooding, with mud compounding the destruction compared to previous storms.

“Everything is coated with 8 inches of mud everywhere… so I think it was much more catastrophic,” Jones said.

Jones, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor who worked on disaster recovery in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CNMI itself, said the destruction at NMTech mirrors what he witnessed in those regions following major hurricanes. He noted that this was his first time experiencing a super typhoon firsthand.

“Very much the same no power, no water. [It’s] very similar to what I saw there,” he said.

He detailed extensive interior damage, including ruined ceiling tiles, saturated and unsalvageable vinyl flooring, and drywall that will need to be removed due to water intrusion and potential mold. While windows remained intact and major structural losses were limited, the campus suffered damage to roofing sections and a severely impacted sewage line.

Jones said repair work is already underway in some areas, but a full cost estimate has yet to be determined, with the scope of reconstruction expected to be both time-consuming and expensive.