May 31 2026

Storm-Tested: Army Engineers Bring Hope to Saipan After Typhoon Sinlaku

Paco Hamm

1st Sgt. Edward Martinez (right), construction manager for the 797th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, supports temporary roofing operations in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Martinez, a Guam native and FEMA reservist with 20 years of Army Reserve service, previously helped install temporary roofs across Guam after Typhoon Mawar in 2023 and now continues supporting disaster recovery efforts alongside fellow Army engineers assisting island communities in need.

May 31 2026

Storm-Tested: Army Engineers Bring Hope to Saipan After Typhoon Sinlaku

Paco Hamm

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Khristian Lee Viray (left), a temporary roofing planner with the 411th Engineer Battalion, speaks with soldiers during the STRONG Roof mission in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Viray, who survived typhoons, floods and volcanic eruptions growing up in the Philippines, now leads Army Reserve engineer teams helping island families recover by installing temporary roofs on storm-damaged homes as part of Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations in coordination with FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

May 31 2026

Soldiers Help Saipan Rebuild One Roof at a Time After Super Typhoon Sinlaku

Paco Hamm

Two U.S. Army Reserve engineer units based in Guam and Hawaii are concluding their role in a critical mission in Saipan supporting the temporary roofing mission as the island continues recovering from the devastation of Super Typhoon Sinlaku. The 797th and 871st Engineer Vertical Construction Companies, deployed in support of the Sinlaku recovery mission as part of the Army Reserve’s responsibilities under Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) and at the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

May 29 2026

Power Restored, Recovery Continues for Tinian Residents

Joshua Voda

Airlifted by a U.S. Air Force C-17 crew, the U.S. Army's 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) arrives at the Tinian International Airport on the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands May 18, where they offloaded two of three Mobile Electric Power 810D generators intended for the Tinian Power Plant to energize the island's power grid. A whole-of-government effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, and military partners are working together to provide temporary grid-level power generation that supports community recovery. (U.S. Army photo by Chris Rosario)

May 29 2026

Power Restored, Recovery Continues for Tinian Residents

Joshua Voda

Lt. Col. Simratpal Singh (center left), commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sinlaku Recovery Field Office, and Lt. Col. Adrian Biggerstaff, commander of the USACE Honolulu District on May 24 discuss energization operations for the Tinian Power Plant on the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands with USACE grid power mission manager Don Schlack (left) and electrical engineering subject matter expert Lukas Kirkpatrick. By supplying temporary electricity to the island, the grid power mission allows the Commonwealth Utility Corporation and partner agencies the time and flexibility needed to assess, repair, and restore permanent power generation infrastructure without delaying power restoration to the community. (U.S. Army photo by Paco Hamm)

May 29 2026

Power Restored, Recovery Continues for Tinian Residents

Joshua Voda

At the Tinian Power Plant on May 24 in the Northern Mariana Islands, Soldiers with the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power), Sgt. Jose Delgado and Sgt. Cory Hardesty, are completing critical electrical connections within a primary switching center, allowing temporary generators to safely integrate with the island's power system and deliver electricity to homes and businesses. At the direction of FEMA, the battalion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and mission partners are working together to provide temporary grid-level power generation that supports community recovery. (U.S. Army photo by Paco Hamm)

May 29 2026

Power Restored, Recovery Continues for Tinian Residents

Joshua Voda

Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, of the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, speaks with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Honolulu District Commander Adrian Biggerstaff during the arrival of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying two Mobile Electric Power 810D generators and members of the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power). The generators were being transported to the Tinian Power Plant. The operation combined strategic military airlift, specialized engineering capabilities, synchronized power planning, and close coordination among USACE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, military partners and local leaders to stabilize the island’s electrical system and support Tinian’s continued recovery. (U.S. Army photo by Chris Rosario)

May 26 2026

Singh assumes command of USACE Sinlaku Recovery Field Office

Paco Hamm

Lt. Col. Simratpal Singh assumed command from Lt. Col. Adrian Biggerstaff of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Super Typhoon Sinlaku Recovery Field Office May 26 at the RFO headquarters in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. USACE, at the direction of FEMA, is mission assigned to provide temporary power and roofing, debris removal and critical infrastructure assessments throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (U.S. Army photo by Paco Hamm)

Apr 25 2026

260425-A-WV022-1005

Courtesy Asset

embers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Debris Management Team conduct assessments around Tinian as they advise the local government of amounts, capabilities and scope of mission in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck the area in early April.

Apr 25 2026

260425-A-WV022-1004

Courtesy Asset

Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Debris Management Team meet with local Tinian officials. The team is performing assessments around Tinian as they advise the local government of amounts, capabilities and scope of mission in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck the area in early April.