HSEM: Rota is quite devastated, grateful no deaths

The CNMI government has begun its first comprehensive damage assessments on Rota after Super Typhoon Bavi tore across the island, with officials describing widespread destruction to critical infrastructure while expressing gratitude that no deaths or injuries had been reported.

Special assistant for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Clement Bermudes said the Commonwealth was fortunate that residents heeded repeated warnings before the Category 5 storm struck.

"We're so blessed across the Commonwealth. Even people from the states reaching out thinking that we've had...we have a recent [Federal Emergency Management Agency] deployee that's here to support the operation, and he just got here Saturday, and he was really baffled that there was no fatality. I think that goes to the people heeding the warnings, preparing and seeking shelter, and then staying sheltered in place when we issued that advisory."

 Bermudes said Rota sustained the worst damage in the CNMI after taking the direct hit from Bavi's eye, with crews racing to restore access to key transportation routes and essential services.

"Rota is quite devastated," he said, adding that "the spirit of Rota is really strong" and that the CNMI government has assured Mayor Aubry Hocog that additional assistance is on the way.

He said roads between Sinapalo and Songsong were initially impassable, prompting the government to mobilize contractors and heavy equipment to assist local crews. Officials are also working to restore operations at the Rota Health Center after its generator was compromised, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to assist through FEMA once access is restored.

The condition of Rota's ports remains a major concern. Bermudes said the West Harbor, already damaged during Super Typhoon Sinlaku, likely suffered additional damage from Bavi, while the East Harbor is awaiting assessment because it serves as the island's fuel terminal. Commercial vessels rely on the ports to bring in most of Rota's supplies.

Officials are also continuing damage assessments before issuing an all-clear.

"Cancellation of conditions does not mean all clear. It just says that we have to downgrade, and then once the assessments are done, then we say for the community to go out and about."

Bermudes said Bavi's impact elsewhere in the CNMI was significantly less severe than on Rota.

"Tinian's power plant again is affected with [Super] Typhoon Bavi and across the CNMI, it's definitely not comparable to Sinlaku. We got some of it, but Rota got the brunt of this super typhoon this time," he said.

He said the CNMI is preparing a request for a major disaster declaration from the White House, while FEMA personnel already on the ground from the ongoing Sinlaku recovery have remained in place to support the response. The U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Defense and airport response teams are also standing by to reopen seaports and airfields so relief supplies can reach Rota as quickly as possible.

Bermudes urged residents to remain patient as recovery efforts continue.

"Be patient with us as we start again. Be humble and grateful again and help each other. We were recovering, now we're responding. It affects everybody at the individual level, but I think as a community we can overcome this challenge again, and we'll do it together."