USACE Temporary Roofing Mission Helps Rota Families Rebuild After Super Typhoon Bavi
USACE Temporary Roofing Mission Helps Rota Families Rebuild After Super Typhoon Bavi
ROTA, Northern Mariana Islands — For families on Rota, recovery from Super Typhoon Bavi meant more than clearing debris and repairing damaged homes. It meant finding a way to protect what remained while working toward permanent repairs and a return to normalcy.
For 116 families, that protection came in the form of a temporary roof.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rota Mayor’s Office, completed 116 temporary roof installations for homes damaged by Super Typhoon Bavi, helping residents protect their homes while continuing the long process of recovery.
“This mission was about more than putting a roof over a house,” said Gregorio Guerrero, Recovery Field Office commander. “It was about helping families regain a sense of security while they continued the long process of rebuilding.”
The temporary roofing effort began Sept. 18, when USACE and FEMA teams partnered with the Rota Mayor’s Office to begin installing temporary roofs for eligible homeowners. The first installation was completed for Rota resident Theresa Lizama, marking the beginning of an effort that would continue across the island.
For Mission Leader Capt. Nathaniel Hashisaki, the significance of the work was measured not only by the number of roofs installed, but by the families behind them.
“For many families, having a temporary roof means a return to normalcy and a peace of mind while they work toward permanent repairs,” Hashisaki said. “After a storm like ST Bavi, people are already dealing with so much. Being able to provide protection from the elements gives families one less thing to worry about.”
Behind every installation was a team effort. USACE personnel worked with local officials, contractors and residents to assess damaged homes, coordinate eligibility and installation requirements, and determine the best temporary roofing solution for each home.
Hashisaki said working directly with residents and seeing the positive impact was one of the most memorable parts of the mission.
“What stood out to me was the resilience and hospitality of the people on Rota,” Hashisaki said. “They had been through a major storm but remained positive and welcoming to the team. You could see the strength in the community and the gratefulness with receiving support for the next step in the recovery process. At every house, store, or public area a member of the community was there thanking the team with a smile on their face.”
For homeowners, the temporary roofs provided more than protection from rain and wind. They provided time—time to plan permanent repairs, replace damaged belongings and begin putting their lives back together.
The effort also demonstrated the importance of partnerships during disaster response.
“This mission would not have been possible without the partnerships,” Hashisaki said. “FEMA provided the disaster assistance framework, USACE brought our engineering expertise, CNMI and the Rota Mayor’s Office helped us connect with the community. The contractor was critical to getting the work done, and most importantly the residents who remained positive and patient. Everyone had a role, and that collaboration allowed us to keep the mission moving.”
Guerrero emphasized that collaboration was central to turning the federal response into meaningful assistance for Rota residents.
“Our mission is to deliver engineering solutions when and where they are needed most,” Guerrero said. “On Rota, that meant working alongside our partners and the community to help families recover and move forward.”
When Hashisaki looks at the 116 roofs completed, he sees more than a mission statistic.
“The mission is far more than a number,” he said. “It represents 116 homes and 116 families who have one more layer of protection as they continue rebuilding. Every roof represents a family that we were able to help during a difficult time. Meeting the residents and seeing the positive impact to the community is what makes the number meaningful.”
With 116 temporary roofs installed, the USACE temporary roofing mission on Rota has concluded. But for the families who received them, the roofs represent more than the completion of a construction project. They are a step toward recovery.
“I hope the roofs give families some security as they continue the recovery process,” Hashisaki said. “The temporary roofs are not the final step, but they give people time to make plans, make permanent repairs and move forward. Our goal was to help the community get to that next step, and I think this mission did that.”
The temporary roofing effort is one part of the larger disaster response and recovery effort underway across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Bavi.
From the first assessment to the final installation, USACE personnel worked alongside federal and local partners and the Rota community to provide practical engineering solutions where they were needed most. For Rota families, recovery continues. But with each repaired home, each strengthened partnership and each step forward, the island moves closer to rebuilding.
Mission in Action: Helping communities recover today while building a stronger tomorrow.
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