HAGATNA, Guam >> It will take about three to four weeks to restore power on Saipan following damage from Typhoon Soudelor, according to the island’s Commonwealth Utilities Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The destructive typhoon struck the island last weekend, destroying homes, toppling trees and snapping utility poles, reported the Pacific Daily News.

A week later, 536 people remain in nine school shelters across the island and the White House has declared it a disaster area, triggering additional federal aid. Saipan is home to most of the population of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory.

"It’s like Saipan in the ’70s. We are getting our news from the radio like back in the old days," said Garapan resident Joe Taijeron, legal counsel for the Legislative Bureau assigned to the House of Representatives.

His house withstood the storm, but his family — fiancée Jamika and her 6- and 7-year-old sons — are living with no power or water.

"I see a lot of people rebuilding, and there’s a lot of hammering going on at night. Cleanup is so remarkably slow," said Taijeron. "There really should be more direct aid to the people, but there isn’t for whatever reason."

Saipan’s utility company was able to restore limited water pressure to some villages Sunday and officials opened a fifth station where residents can collect potable water. Water is rationed at 100 gallons per day for each family and stations are open from noon to 7 p.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency unloaded generators, water, food, blankets and other goods from the USS Ashland on Friday. The priority for the generators was to restore water and help the hospital, said Kevin Bautista, special projects coordinator for the office of the Lieutenant Governor.

"This is very welcome news that we learned today," said acting Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. "I have so much gratitude to the people of Guam, FEMA, Joint Region Marianas, the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for all their support in restoring utilities and the rest of the infrastructure so our residents can get back to normal as quickly as possible. I can’t thank them enough; it’s overwhelming."

Opening day for private schools — which in some cases has already passed — has been pushed back indefinitely as residents recover from the storm. Officials haven’t yet decided if they will delay the first day of public school, which is typically in early September, said Bautista.