By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
PEOPLE, animals, and the land itself — the whole island of Rota was emerging from Super Typhoon Bavi together in the storm’s aftermath.
Local attorney Robert Harrison Atalig Myers Jr. had to keep his dogs — Luna, Po, and Ma’Ya — inside his house near Alaguan Bay, south of Sinapalo, as strong gusts from the Category 5 typhoon began slamming against the windows. Although wet, they were all safe inside the house along with his children, Vander, Venice, and Vella.
When conditions cleared Tuesday morning, Vander found a little survivor — a cute chick estimated to be about two days old — sheltering on the south side of their ranch. When Myers and his children came outside, they saw more animals returning, searching for food: fruit bats, seabirds, and other birds moving about again after the devastating storm.
“Seeing them return was powerful because it reminded us that the whole island was coming out of the storm together,” Myers said in a WhatsApp interview, describing the moment Super Typhoon Bavi struck as “crazy powerful.”
“We locked down and prepared as best we could before the storm. Money was tight, so we weren’t able to get gas or buy boards to cover the windows, but I was able to get food at the last minute,” Myers said.
Vander did a really good job securing everything outside, Myers said, so they felt they had done what they could. The rain and strong winds arrived early, and then the storm hit hard.
Myers said he had experienced Super Typhoon Paka on Guam and Super Typhoon Yutu in the CNMI, “and this one was very powerful.”
“The doors and window frames were shaking like they were coming loose, and water started coming in, but we were able to control it,” he said.
At first, Myers said, the wind pushed from north to south. After the eye passed, the winds returned from the opposite direction. Around 6:30 a.m., he could tell the worst had passed, so he went outside and recorded some video. There was significant water damage around the property, and a power pole in front of his house had fallen and blocked the entrance.
They kept their dogs inside during the worst of the storm, he said, and he was finally able to let them out during a break in the weather.
“My son also found a little chick that we are now taking care of. Most importantly, we are all safe,” Myers said.
The family named the chick Bavi.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
