FEMA airlifts generators to Rota as recovery shifts toward restoring ports

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has airlifted several dozen generators to Rota as part of an emergency air bridge following Super Typhoon Bavi, with the power units helping restore critical public infrastructure while recovery efforts continue across the island.

FEMA external affairs officer Keith Jones said the agency quickly established an air bridge after the storm knocked out power, water and communications on Rota.

"We created what they call an air bridge," Jones said. "We were taking generators from Saipan, loading them on the back of military and civilian C-130s or L-100s, and we were flying them down there to Rota."

Jones said the most recent figure available to him indicated about two dozen generators had already been installed, with additional teams continuing the work.

He said the generators are being prioritized for essential public infrastructure.

"We've been doing the medical clinics, the schools, the sheltering, the public facilities, communications towers, things of that nature," he said.

Beyond generators, FEMA said it has also flown in communications equipment, including towers installed near the Rota Mayor's Office and in Songsong to improve islandwide connectivity.

Jones said restoring Rota's ports has been equally critical because they are the key to resuming the normal flow of fuel and commercial goods. He said the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy assessed the facilities, allowing one port to reopen so fuel deliveries could resume after repairs were made to a damaged fuel line.

"The air bridge was Stage 1 because the ports are down," Jones said. "We have reopened at least one port and we're looking to reopen the other port so that the entire island can get back to their normal way of commodities."

He said FEMA has intentionally avoided flooding the island with free commodities that could compete with recovering local businesses, noting that Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits allow residents to purchase food locally as commercial supplies return.

Jones also said federal agencies have deliberately limited the number of personnel deployed to Rota. Instead of stationing large numbers of responders on the island, many first responders are flying in as needed so they do not overwhelm Rota's already strained infrastructure and limited accommodations.

"What we're not doing is overburdening them with people," Jones said. "Their people are very resilient."

He praised the Rota Mayor's Office and residents for leading much of the cleanup effort themselves while requesting targeted federal assistance when necessary.

Meanwhile, FEMA reminded residents still awaiting assistance from Super Typhoon Sinlaku that although in-person staffing has been reduced, help remains available for pending applications.

Jones said applicants can call FEMA's national helpline at 1-800-621-3362, the local CNMI assistance line at (670) 237-8000, or visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Residents who were found ineligible because of missing documentation may also receive assistance at survivor recovery centers, where staff can help complete their applications.