Governor Arnold I. Palacios this afternoon announced that U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., has approved the CNMI’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration to further support the Commonwealth’s emergency response to Typhoon Mawar and recovery efforts.

As of 2:00 p.m. today, Governor Arnold I. Palacios, in consultation with the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS Guam) Weather Forecast Office (WFO), has upgraded the declaration for Rota to Typhoon Condition I and declared Tropical Storm Condition I for the islands of Saipan, and Tinian. 

SPA# MP-23-0006 Effective Date: April 1, 2023

As of 1:00 p.m. today, Governor Arnold I. Palacios, in consultation with the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS Guam) Weather Forecast Office (WFO), has upgraded the declaration for Rota to Typhoon Condition II and declared Tropical Storm Condition II  for the islands of Saipan, and Tinian. 

As of 3:00 p.m. today, Governor Arnold I. Palacios, in consultation with the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS Guam), has maintained Typhoon Condition III for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Typhoon Condition III means that damaging winds are possible within 48 hours.

As of 5:00 p.m. this afternoon, in consultation with the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office (WFO), Governor Arnold I. Palacios has declared Typhoon Condition III for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Typhoon Condition III means that damaging winds are possible within 48 hours.

In consultation with officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office (WFO), Governor Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Governor David M. Apatang, and the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) advise CNMI residents to take precautionary measures for a tropical disturbance (97W) developing west of Chuuk and is expected to pass near or through the CNMI between Monday through Wednesday.

The CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs under the CNMI Office of the Governor would like to invite all Military members, family, and the general public for the signing of the Memorial Week Proclamation on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Governor’s Conference Room, first floor, and the Memorial Day Celebration on Monday, May 29, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi. 

Governor Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Governor David M. Apatang have announced, through the CNMI Department of Finance – Division of Revenue and Taxation, that the first batch of refunds for the tax year 2022 will be disbursed beginning this Friday. 

The Division of Land Registration and Survey under the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources is informing the public that its offices will be closed from May 15 – 19, 2023 as staff will be transitioning to their new office at the San Vicente Youth Center.