Photo By Monique Freemon | On April 14, Super Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall on the Commonwealth of the Northern...... read more read more
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — Almost three months after Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit the island of Rota, the southernmost island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a second typhoon, Bavi, barreled it too.
Sinlaku, which made landfall April 14, caused widespread damage to the three CMNI islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian with critical damage to power supply on Saipan and Tinian, while sparing Rota from the same fate. Then Super Typhoon Bavi hit the islands July 6, taking out the power supply on Rota.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Temporary Power Team and its partners have worked long days to install generators at critical facilities such as shelters and the health clinic on Rota until the island’s powerplant is brought back online.
"Restoring power is the critical first step in helping the people of Rota rebuild their lives after these devastating storms," said Lt. Col. Lamar K. Cantelou, commander of the USACE Recovery Field Office. "Every generator we install for critical facilities like shelters, telecommunications and water brings the people of Rota a step closer to normal."
USACE was able to respond quickly because additional personnel and resources were pre-positioned ahead of Super Typhoon Bavi’s landfall along with the resources that were already on the ground due to Sinlaku.
Last week, the Temporary Power Team completed a major milestone working into the night to provide power to the Rota Health Center.
“Bringing power to hospitals and health centers is always a priority on a temp power mission because it reduces the potential for loss of life and is a symbol to the communities devastated by the storm that they are not alone” said Maj. Blake Ritchey, Mission Leader, Temporary Power Planning Response Team, USACE.
In addition to the temporary generators that are installed at critical facilities, the Temporary Power Team installed a generator at Rota’s powerplant to electrify the heaters used to dry out the storm-soaked powerplant engines and accelerate their return to service.
The team is averaging two generator installations per day. Over the past two weeks, the team installed generators at two shelters housing about 100 people, the health center, a cell tower, water wells, police and fire departments, the judicial center, the Valentino and Coral Garden Hotels (which is housing first responders), a water bottle plant, an ice production facility and a diesel service station.
The USACE Temporary Power Team continues to work extended shifts to restored power to Rota’s critical facilities as quickly as possible.
Almost 2,000 people live on the island, and nearly half have been without power and water. Homes were destroyed, trees snapped and debris littered the roads.
On July 3, President Donald Trump approved the emergency declaration for CNMI, allowing USACE and The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate the federal response to Bavi.
Sinlaku and Bavi brought sustained winds of 180 mph, the equivalent of Category 4 or 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. The name "super typhoon" is given to the strongest tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Some of Earth’s strongest storms have formed in this area, occurring so often, the region has been called "Typhoon Alley."
Scientists note the western Pacific is one of the most active areas for tropical and subtropical ocean storms due to a combination of rising sea surface temperatures and the lack of landmasses compared to the Atlantic. Warmer oceans can increase storm intensity and carry more moisture.
As CNMI residents progress on their road to recovery in the aftermath of both super typhoons, USACE, along with FEMA, the American Red Cross and other local and federal agencies, continues to restore life-essential functions in Rota and across the CNMI.
“Our focus remains on installing generators on Rota. To date, our Temporary Power Team has completed over half of the requested installations. The team continues to greatly improve conditions on Rota with restoring necessary life functions,” said Lt. Col. Lamar K. Cantelou, commander of the USACE Recovery Field Office.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2026 01:50 |
| Story ID: | 570838 |
| Location: | ROTA, MP |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, On the Road to Recovery: Restoring Power to Rota post-Bavi, by Monique Freemon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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