Shaken but not broken: Rota rises from Bavi’s ruins
- Admin
- 4 minutes ago
- 5 min read
By Bryan Manabat
Songsong, Rota—When Aubry Hocog became the first woman—and the youngest—to serve as mayor in Rota’s history, she understood the weight of breaking two barriers at once. But nothing in her tenure, nor in the island’s recent memory, compared to the force of Super Typhoon Bavi, the most shattering storm to hit Rota in more than two decades.
In the tense days before the storm barreled toward the Marianas region, Rota was already deep into emergency mode. Emergency officials tracked the storm’s path through daily briefings with National Weather Service‑Guam meteorologist Landon Aydlett, coordinated with Gov. David Apatang and the EOC and mobilized personnel to reach families in remote farmlands who lacked reliable internet.
“We always make sure communication is key,” Hocog said. “We prepare notices, we drive around, we talk to people directly. We tell them what to expect, how best to prepare, where they can seek shelter. We don’t leave anyone behind.”
Those living in tin‑roofed homes were especially at risk. “We really wanted them to listen, and thankfully many did.”
Also called the "Friendly Island," Rota has an estimated population of 1,660 in 2026, down from 3,280 in 2000. Known for its unspoiled environment, Rota is 12.3 miles long and 4.2 miles wide and located in the southernmost part of the Northern Marianas.
When Bavi arrived, it delivered the direct hit forecasters feared. Winds tore roofs off semi‑concrete homes, uprooted trees across the island and pushed seawater deep into coastal neighborhoods. “When you’re up in the air, you can see the major damage,” Hocog said. “My heart goes out to these families. Many of them worked so hard for what they have.”
Communication collapsed almost instantly. Roads were blocked. The airport lost power and suffered roof and fence damage. The seaport’s sinkholes widened and the West Harbor’s docking slip was ripped away. More than 100 wooden power poles snapped.
But once the all‑clear was issued, Hocog’s team moved immediately.
“We activated wellness checks right away,” she said. “Because we had major communication issues, we had to send DPS personnel house-to-house.” By what she repeatedly described as “God’s blessing,” there were no fatalities. “Just scratches and lacerations during debris cleanup,” she said. “Non‑fatal. Everyone was okay.”
Public Works crews cleared one‑lane access so emergency vehicles could reach families in need. CUC tapped its reservoir to restore water access after a pre‑storm pipe break. “Many of us would rather ensure we have water first,” Hocog said. “Sanitation, hygiene—that’s critical.”
Fuel access returned within days after the Department of Public Works cleared routes for Mobil tankers. Stores reopened with limited operations. Restaurants partnered with World Central Kitchen to feed shelter residents and responders. “World Central Kitchen responded immediately,” she said.
With communications still down in Sinapalo, the Emergency Operations Center deployed Starlink units at the Aging Center and other sites. Local residents offered generators and charging stations. “All these things make a difference,” Hocog said. “It helps people mobilize through these trying times.”
Relief distribution soon followed. FEMA assets such as water, MREs, cots, blankets and solar lights were delivered door-to-door. Nonprofits from Rota, Saipan, Guam and even Georgia joined forces to assemble 600 household relief bags. “We don’t want anybody feeling left out,” she said. “No matter how big or small the donation, people didn’t have to do this, but they did.”
Bavi delivered the most direct hit Rota has seen since Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. “When we talk to our elderly, many of them still remember Pongsona,” Hocog said. “I don’t remember it myself, but they’ve told us how strong it was, how it tore through the island and changed everything.”
For Rota, Pongsona remains the benchmark for destruction: a storm that flattened homes, crippled utilities and left communities isolated for weeks. Hocog said those memories resurfaced as Bavi approached, shaping both the fear and the determination of families preparing for impact.
“They’ve lived through the worst,” she said. “So when they heard Bavi was coming straight for Rota, they knew what that meant. They understood the magnitude.”
That generational memory, she added, helped reinforce the urgency of early preparation. “Our people listened because they’ve seen what storms can do. Pongsona taught them, and taught all of us, that you cannot take these typhoons lightly.”
Bavi has now become the island’s newest defining storm. While it echoed Pongsona’s severity, Bavi put Rota’s readiness, coordination and resilience to the test.
Even as Rota focuses on recovery, Hocog targets the island’s long‑term economic vision, especially tourism, which she describes as one of its greatest strengths.
Rota is famous for its historic sites, lush forests and natural wonders such as the "swimming hole," a small naturally formed pool of seawater by the coast. Rota has diverse flora and fauna, including the endemic and endangered Mariana crow and Mariana fruit bat. Four wildlife conservation areas have been designated on Rota: Mariana Crow Conservation Area, Sabana Protected Area, I'Chenchon Park Wildlife Conservation Area and Liyo Conservation Area.
There are five plant species or subspecies that are endemic to Rota, including the critically endangered Osmoxylon mariannense and the endangered Nesogenes rotensis.
“We had great plans,” she said. “We want to showcase what makes Rota different from the neighboring islands.”
Hocog said Rota’s appeal lies in its authenticity and natural beauty. “For Rota, I think it’s the unique charm,” she said. “The special untouched island because we still have so much natural habitat.”
She pointed to recent interest from researchers and cultural practitioners. “We had doctoral students from Europe here during Bavi,” she said. “They came to study the plants and inland civilizations. Rota has a lot of history to offer.”
The mayor believes that once the island stabilizes, tourism can rebound stronger than before, especially if infrastructure is modernized.
“Every island has its unique features,” she said. “For us, it’s our culture, our environment, our people. And we want to expand that once we resume normalcy.”
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Agriculture, she said, remains one of the island’s biggest untapped strengths. “We have such an abundance of land,” she said. “There’s a very positive cost-benefit to farming. Our neighboring islands want to purchase from Rota. The question is, can we meet the demand?”
Manufacturing interest has also grown. “Investors see the potential,” she said. “They want to come in, hire locals, support vendors. But they always ask about the ports. How can we expand our airport and seaport? That’s what we’re working on.”
Bavi, she believes, may accelerate long‑term improvements. “It’s a blessing in disguise,” she said. “Now we can really address the seaport. It’s a lifeline. If we restore it properly, we can welcome more vessels, stimulate businesses and even export. That’s an opportunity for our people.”
Hocog acknowledged her limitations. “I could not do it alone,” she said. “There has to be constant communication with the governor, the homeland security office, my cabinet, our first responders.”
Her vision for Rota is clear: stronger infrastructure, expanded agriculture, a revived tourism and new business opportunities that can withstand future storms. “All we can do is reflect on the past and plan,” she said. “And that’s what gets us moving.”
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