Typhoon Sinlaku: Volunteers Helping Despite Their Own Losses as Islands Struggle to Recover

Man in Red Cross vest carries two clean-up kits through a neighborhood with storm damage

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A Red Cross volunteer walks through a damaged neighborhood, on his way to deliver relief supplies. He is part of a team of mostly Saipan residents who dropped everything to volunteer with the Red Cross. Red Cross photo by Scott Marder

Two men in Red Cross shirts deliver supplies to a home on Saipan.

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Red Cross volunteers deliver relief supplies to a home on Saipan. They are part of the team of mostly Saipan residents who dropped everything to volunteer with the Red Cross. Red Cross photo by Scott Marder

A man in a Red Cross vest walks down a street full of damage from the storm.

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A Red Cross volunteer walks through a damaged neighborhood on Saipan, helping with damage assessment which will help define what assistance is needed in the weeks to come. Red Cross photo by Scott Marder

Two women in Red Cross vests walk through downed trees carrying relief supplies.

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Two Red Cross volunteers walk through downed trees to deliver relief supplies on Saipan. Red Cross photo by Scott Marder

People in Red Cross shirts and vests prepare to unload relief supplies from a plane

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The Red Cross continues to work side by side with local partners to support our neighbors on Saipan, Tinian and Rota as recovery continues after Super Typhoon Sinlaku. To support that work, the Red Cross shipped another 1,400 pounds of relief supplies and equipment to help meet immediate needs across the region. Red Cross photo by Scott Marder

Two SAF Red Crossers sitting in the dark, huddle around a lamp while the power is out. One is on the phone while the other takes notes.

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With the power still out, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) staff members Sam Hand and Stephanie Soliz continue supporting the Typhoon Sinlaku response in Saipan. On Guam, SAF staff supported hundreds of service members and their families who sought help at the Emergency Family Assistance Center set up on Naval Base Guam. Guam is home to several major U.S. military facilities which have also been affected by the typhoon. SAF volunteers on Guam regularly engage and assist service members and their families, and veterans. They support hospitals, medical clinics and administrative offices on military installations as well as case workService to the Armed Forces maintains a global workforce across U.S. military bases in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East, providing day-to-day support to military communities and, in times of significant disasters, deploying as trained disaster workers to assist both military and civilian communities.

Three people in Red Cross shirts unload a truck of relief supplies

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Red Cross disaster responders Vic Parker, Leo Pratte and Alex Hofschneider load relief supplies into a truck at Tinian International Airport during a fierce rainstorm. The Red Cross deployed over 300 trained responders to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, with tons of equipment and supplies, to help communities recover from widespread damage caused by Typhoon Sinlaku’s 130+mph winds and storm surge. Photo by: Scott Marder/American Red Cross

A Red Cross volunteer wearing all red talks with a woman in front of a damaged home.

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Long time Red Cross disaster responder Vic Parker talks with Nina Amansec in front of her Tinian home that was destroyed by Typhoon Sinlaku. “I am alive, at least I am alive,” says Nina. Photo by: Scott Marder/American Red Cross

Man in Red Cross shirt in front of a damaged building

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Andrew Hofschneider, Red Cross volunteer on Tinian, inspects storm damage at a neighbor’s house. Despite losing his own home, Andrew continues to help. Photo by: Scott Marder/American Red Cross

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Volunteer Zoe King focuses on others, listening, checking in and helping neighbors connect to support. It is what she has done for nine years as a Red Cross volunteer on Tinian, and it is what she continues to do now, despite losing her own home during the typhoon. Photo by Scott Marder/American Red Cross.

May 01, 2026

If you have been impacted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku, please contact your local Red Cross for support by calling 671-472-6217 (Guam) or 670-234-3459 (Saipan).

It’s been more than two weeks since Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit Guam, Saipan and Tinian, leaving devastation in its wake. Saipan and Tinian took the brunt of the storm, destroying home after home on the islands.

Hundreds of American Red Cross disaster workers from across the country have joined volunteers from the region, working around the clock to help people as they deal with the aftermath of the typhoon. Among those volunteers on Tinian are several Red Crossers who are helping their neighbors despite their own losses.

Andrew Hofschneider, a longtime Tinian Red Cross volunteer, continues to help even after the typhoon destroyed his home. For years, Andrew has responded to home fires and disasters across his community. Now, even after losing his own home, he remains a critical part of the Red Cross response on the island, helping others navigate their recovery. He recently stood outside his destroyed home while supporting damage assessment efforts on Tinian. “It’s been rough… my house is destroyed,” he said. “My wife came once… she cried. My kids haven’t seen it yet. It’s been rough… but people are still trying.”

Every day since Sinlaku hit Tinian, Zoe King steps into her community focused on others, listening, checking in and helping neighbors connect to available support. She does this despite her home being destroyed during the typhoon. It is what she has done for nine years as a Red Cross volunteer on Tinian, and it is what she continues to do now. “I see myself in them,” Zoe said. “We’re not the only one. We’re still fortunate… I’m blessed.” The storm destroyed her family’s home and flooding damaged many of the belongings they depended on. Zoe's family is staying in a hotel as they begin to rebuild. Even so, she keeps showing up to help people who may never ask for help on their own. This Red Crosser is a volunteer, and a survivor. “Please be kind,” she said, “because we don’t know what everybody’s going through.”

RED CROSS RESPONSE On Saipan, where the destruction is widespread, the Red Cross is operating shelters, distributing emergency supplies and water to hard hit areas, and supporting detailed damage assessment. Water remains a challenge, with frequent interruptions to the water supply. The Red Cross continues to work with community partners and local government to address unmet needs.

The situation on Tinian has stabilized, with water and power restored. The Red Cross is helping with damage assessment and distributing emergency supplies to residents who need them.

In shelters, disaster health volunteers are caring for minor injuries and replacing things like eyeglasses and medications. Disaster mental health workers are providing emotional support to those experiencing unimaginable loss. So far, Red Cross teams have delivered hundreds of clean-up kits and other emergency items, and with partners have served over 165,300 snacks and meals.

FIND A SHELTER The Red Cross is supporting shelters on Saipan and Tinian with hundreds of people seeking refuge after the storm. To date there have been over 13,100 overnight stays in Red Cross shelters.

People can find open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app and by calling 670-234-3459 (Saipan) or 671-472-6217 (Guam). They can also check with local officials and monitor local news for information on where to find emergency shelter.

Red Cross shelters are a safe place for everyone. We don’t ask for identification, and you don’t have to stay overnight. The Red Cross is not only providing a safe place to stay, but food, water, health services and more are available in the shelters.

If possible, people who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Help people affected by disasters like floods, storms and countless other crises by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.

You can also help by becoming a volunteer. The American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region Guam Chapter is urging community members to sign up to support their neighbors. We invite you to get involved by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.

RECONNECTING If someone has a loved one or friend that is missing due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, they should visit redcross.org/gethelp and follow the steps to fill out a reunification request. Tell us about the person(s) you are looking for. Provide as much detail as you can to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one.

Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) Through the generosity of our American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder members, the American Red Cross is prepared before disaster strikes. ADGP and Disaster Responder members help secure a reliable funding base for disaster relief services that enables the Red Cross to respond immediately, meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by disaster.

Mission Leader Members: Amazon; American Airlines; Bank of America; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Costco Wholesale; Dollar General; Ford Philanthropy; Lowe's; State Farm

ADGP Leaders: Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Caterpillar Foundation; Chick-fil-A; CMA CGM Foundation; Delta Air Lines; Enterprise Mobility Foundation; FedEx; Honda; Lilly Endowment Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Mastercard; McDonald’s Corporation; Merck; Nationwide Foundation; PetSmart Charities; The Pfizer Foundation; The Starbucks Foundation; Takeda; Truist Foundation; VSP Vision; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; The Walt Disney Company; Wells Fargo Foundation

ADGP Members: ALDI; The Allstate Foundation; Altria Group; Aon; Baxter International Foundation; Bread Financial; Capital One; Citi Foundation; The Clorox Company; Danaher Foundation; Darden Foundation; Delta Dental; Edison International Foundation; Elevance Health Foundation; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Fox Corporation; GE Aerospace Foundation; General Motors; Google.org; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; HCA Healthcare; The Home Depot Foundation; The J.M. Smucker Company; Johnson Controls Foundation; The Kroger Co. Foundation; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Microsoft; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; Northrop Grumman Foundation; PayPal; PepsiCo Foundation; Stryker; Suburban Propane; Target; The Winn-Dixie Company; The TJX Companies, Inc.; Toyota; United Airlines; UPS; USAA; U.S. Bank Foundation; Visa Foundation; The Wawa Foundation; Wesco; Wingstop Restaurants; Zoetis Foundation

Disaster Responder Program Members: 3M; 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe Foundation; The AES Corporation; Aflac; Albemarle Corporation; The Allstate Foundation; American Family Insurance; American Water Charitable Foundation; Ameriprise Financial; Assurant; Avangrid Foundation; Barclays; Bath & Body Works; Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Build-A-Bear Foundation; Canadian National Railway; CDW; Charles Schwab Foundation; Cisco and Cisco Foundation; CNA Insurance; The Coca-Cola Foundation; CSX; The Deluxe Foundation; DENSO North America Foundation; DHL Supply Chain; The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation; Dollar Tree; Duke Energy; Eli Lilly and Company Foundation; Enbridge; Equitable ; Erie Insurance; Farmers Insurance®; Fastenal; Grainger; HP Foundation; International Paper; Invitation Homes; John Deere; Johnson & Johnson Foundation; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation ; L'Oréal Groupe; The Labcorp Charitable Foundation; Lenovo ; Liberty Mutual Insurance; LKQ; Macy’s, Inc.; Major League Baseball; Martin Marietta; Masco Corporation; McKesson Foundation; MetLife Foundation; Mutual of Omaha Foundation; NextEra Energy, Inc.; Nike Foundation; Norfolk Southern; Northwestern Mutual; Old Dominion Freight Line; Old Republic International Corporation; Oxy; Pacific Life Foundation; Phillips 66; Prudential; QBE Foundation; Qualcomm; Raymond James; RBC Foundation USA; Reckitt; Reynolds American Inc.; RGA Foundation; RTX; Ryder System, Inc.; Salesforce; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; ServiceNow; Southwest Airlines; Stanley Black & Decker; Sunbelt Rentals; T-Mobile; Tennant Company; Toyota Tsusho America, Inc.; Uber; U-Haul International; Uber; Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation; US Foods; Westlake Corporation; Yum! Brands; Zurich

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.