Mariana islands begin recover as "All Clear" declared across the region following Super Typhoon Bavi
Super Typhoon Bavi slammed into Rota, the eye making landfall Monday morning. Bavi's winds and rains also swept across the other islands. All of the islands, with Rota being the hardest hit, had disruptions to power, water and communications. There also were extensive coastal inundation and erosion across the region.
Communities across the Mariana Islands began the work of recovery on Tuesday, July 7, as Super Typhoon Bavi moved out of the region overnight, prompting officials in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) to lift emergency restrictions and shift into active assessment and cleanup phases.
Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, together with the Department of Public Works, the Mayor's Council of Guam, and other Government of Guam partners, conducted an initial windshield damage assessment at first light Tuesday morning once conditions were safe.
At 6 a.m., Joint Region Marianas and its installations entered an active recovery phase, clearing the way for emergency responders and assessment teams to evaluate damage, identify hazards, and begin restoration work. The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Guam has since canceled the typhoon warning for the island, and power remained on in parts of Guam throughout the storm's passage.
Leon Guerrero placed Guam in Condition of Readiness (COR) 4 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, returning the island to normal operations. By 11:30 a.m., Joint Region Marianas had likewise returned to Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness (TCCOR) 4 — an all clear — following completion of its initial recovery operations and damage assessments.
Officials noted that while normal operations are resuming, some installation facilities and services may need additional time to reopen depending on damage assessments and operational requirements, and residents are advised to continue monitoring official installation channels for updates.
Joint Task Force–Micronesia, the Department of War's supported command for Defense Support of Civil Authorities in the region, continues coordinating with federal, territorial, and local partners to support a rapid response if requested.
Only essential government of Guam personnel were required to report to work Tuesday, with other employees advised to check with supervisors for case-by-case guidance. GovGuam offices are set to fully reopen for business Wednesday, July 8.
The Department of Public Works has confirmed that all impassable roadways reported to the Emergency Operations Center through DPW or the Mayors' Council of Guam have been cleared and are safe for travel. Residents who encounter debris such as fallen trees or downed power lines creating hazards on village streets are asked to report them to their village mayor.
With traffic signals knocked out by power outages in a number of areas, the Guam Police Department will be conducting manual traffic direction at major intersections and junctions around the island. Where an officer or traffic control person is present, drivers should obey their hand signals. Where signals are completely out and no personnel are present, motorists are asked to treat the intersection as an all-way stop, with the following right-of-way rules in effect:
• The first vehicle to come to a complete stop has the right-of-way to proceed first. • If two vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. • If two vehicles stop at the same time facing each other, the vehicle turning left must yield to the vehicle going straight.
GPD is asking drivers not to assume others know or will follow these rules, to use turn signals early, and to watch closely for pedestrians and bicyclists, who are harder to see during power outages. Guam Power Authority engineers and line crews began full system assessments and restoration efforts Tuesday, prioritizing transmission lines needed to energize substations and address water well issues. As of 8 a.m., GPA reported: • Substations energized: 63% • Feeders/circuits energized: 22% • System load restored: 14%
GPA noted that feeders and circuits cannot be energized until their corresponding substation is online, so system load figures will rise as more feeders and circuits are restored. The utility said it does not anticipate any generation capacity shortage and plans to restore service using its remaining base load and reserve units.
For customers still without power, GPA said outages may reflect feeders not yet energized, additional repair work needed on transformers or service lines even where main lines are restored, isolated damage requiring crews to return after main circuits are back online, or smaller outage pockets within otherwise-restored villages.
The utility said its Advanced Metering Infrastructure and SCADA systems allow it to track outages and locate these pockets, and asked customers to limit calls to the GPA Dispatch Center (PSCC) to critical safety issues such as downed lines, blown transformers, or low-voltage conditions.
Residents are urged to stay away from all downed lines and equipment, which may still be energized and life-threatening. Downed power lines can be reported to GPA Trouble Dispatch at (671) 475-1472 / 1473 / 1474, by email at [email protected], or via direct message on GPA's Facebook or Instagram pages, with the exact location, contact information, and description of the hazard.
The Guam Waterworks Authority reported that as of 10 a.m., 68 wells were online and running on generator power, and the Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant was back online, also on generator power. GWA and GPA are jointly assessing power issues affecting water and wastewater services.
GWA said it is aware of low to no water pressure in Agana Heights, Barrigada, Chalan Pago-Ordot, Dededo, Mangilao, Mongmong-Toto-Maite, Sinajana, Yigo, and Yona, though pressure has been restored in parts of Agana Heights, Sinajana, and Yigo. The agency cautioned that additional outages and low-pressure periods should be expected as system adjustments continue at wells, pump stations, and reservoirs in response to power loss, fluctuations, refueling, or generator maintenance.
Water tankers and flextanks are being deployed to areas with low or no pressure. As of 11 a.m., three tankers had been staged at: • Santa Teresita Catholic Church, Mangilao • Chalan Palauan, Dededo • Agana Heights Gym
Additional tankers and flextanks will be staged, with public notice to follow. Residents are asked to bring their own containers to store and haul water. GWA's Utility Compliance Lab has begun sampling restored sections of the distribution system, with results expected within 24 hours and to be reported publicly. More sampling will follow as additional portions of the system come back online.
Customers can report low or no water pressure, sewer backups, or overflows to GWA dispatch at (671) 646-4211 or [email protected].
And while winds have died down, there have been the following advisories remain in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan: • Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday, with dangerously large breaking waves up to 20 feet decreasing to 10–15 feet overnight, and minor coastal flooding possible. • High Surf Warning in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday, with dangerous surf of 1 to 3 feet expected at least through Tuesday afternoon. Officials are urging everyone to stay out of the water due to life-threatening conditions.
The GBHWC Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains operational 24/7 for residents affected by the storm, available by calling or texting 988 or chatting online at 988lifeline.org.
Gov. David M. Apatang, in consultation with the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office and the National Weather Service in Guam, declared an "All Clear" for Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Alamagan, Agrihan, and Pagan, effective 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.
Despite the all clear and calmer conditions, officials are urging residents on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan to remain cautious as recovery efforts get underway. Lingering impacts from Bavi may include localized flooding, debris, damaged infrastructure, downed power lines, and hazardous road conditions. Residents are advised to exercise caution when traveling and to avoid affected areas where possible.
The following warnings remain in effect across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan: • High Surf Warning until 4 p.m., July 9 • Hazardous Seas Warning until 5 a.m., July 9 • Wind Advisory until 5 p.m., July 7
The Office of the Governor and Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office said they will continue monitoring conditions and coordinating recovery efforts with partner agencies. Updates are being issued through the Joint Information Center, and residents can follow the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office and CNMI Joint Information Center on Facebook (@cnmigovernor) and Instagram (@governorcnmi), as well as NWS Guam on Facebook (@NWSGuam) or at weather.gov/gum.
The Rota Mayor's Office issued a public announcement alerting residents that communications remain disrupted for some DOCOMO Pacific and IT&E customers on Rota due to the ongoing impacts of Super Typhoon Bavi.
Some residents may be unable to make or receive phone calls or access mobile data services.
Residents with a working landline, or who are able to message the Rota Public Information Facebook page, and who are concerned about the safety or well-being of a family member, friend, or neighbor they have been unable to reach, are asked to call the Rota Mayor's Office at (670) 532-9451 or the Office of Aging at (670) 532-2656.
The office said it will refer inquiries to the Department of Public Safety and asked residents to leave their name and number for a callback.
The Rota Mayor's Office announced that community charging stations would be made available for residents from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at both the Rota Mayor's Office and the Office of Aging. Residents are asked to bring their own charging cables and adapters, and to be mindful of others waiting by disconnecting devices once they are sufficiently charged.
Looking ahead, the region's focus is shifting from storm response to recovery — clearing debris, restoring communications and power, and assessing infrastructure damage. Officials across Guam and the NMI are asking residents to remain patient and cautious as assessments continue and services are gradually restored in the days ahead.
This is a developing story. The Marianas Business Journal will continue to provide updates as they become available from Guam and NMI officials.
Meteorologists warn that catastrophic winds from Super Typhoon Bavi are bearing down on Rota, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an extreme wind warning early Monday. The NWS issues such alerts when sustained winds of 120 mph or more are expected.
With Super Typhoon Bavi now packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and forecast to strengthen further as it moves toward the Marianas, emergency officials are urging businesses and residents to treat this weekend as their critical window to prepare for potentially damaging winds.
Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are now in Condition of Readiness 3 as Typhoon Bavi approaches, with both governors urging residents and businesses to use the remaining hours of fair weather to prepare.
