American Samoa Earthquake
and Tsunami Damage
Federal Response Activities, DOI Personnel & Facilities Update

The damage from tsunami flooding can be seen on a street leading up to Pago Plaza in American Samoa's capitol of Pago Pago. The NPS visitor center, which was heavily damaged, is on the first floor of the Pago Plaza -- the blue tile building in the background

Updated October 13, 2009, An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter Scale occurred 120 miles south-southwest from American Samoa, about 13 kilometers below the seabed at about 6:48 a.m. SST (1:48 p.m. Eastern DT ). The earthquake was followed by a tsunami that produced several large waves causing 32 confirmed deaths, more than a hundred injuries and the destruction of about 200 homes and businesses. While there are still about 400 persons living in shelters, most of the displaced persons have been invited to live with friends and families on the island. Major damage/destruction occurred to the coastal areas of Tutuila and other islands of American Samoa, a U.S. insular territory. The tsunami also impacted surrounding islands, including Western Samoa and Tonga.

American Samoa received an expedited Federal Major Disaster Declaration on Sept. 29, 2009 making disaster funds available for Individual assistance, Public assistance and Hazard Mitigation. The Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) established a Joint Field Office (JFO) on the island where all Federal response and recovery operations are being coordinated. The FCO assumed operational control of response and recovery operations from FEMA Region IX’s Response Coordination Center which has transitioned to a support posture. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced late this week that response operations have concluded and the incident has moved to the recovery phase. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center has shifted back to normal, steady state operations.
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Guidance for 2009 H1N1 Flu

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus that was first detected in April 2009. The virus has sparked a growing and expanding pandemic - with 214 countries worldwide reporting confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu, including over 18,300 deaths, to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Many factors changed since the H1N1 Flu first arrived. There is little 2009 H1N1 Flu virus currently circulating and causing illness in the United States. No states are reporting widespread or regional influenza activity, and most states are reporting no activity or sporadic activity. This is typical for the summer during non-pandemic years. Hospitalizations from influenza-like illnesses have also fallen to their usual low levels for this time of year. In response to the current situation of the H1N1 Flu activity in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not renew the public health emergency declaration for the H1N1 Flu Pandemic, and it expired on June 23. In addition, on August 10, WHO announced that the world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert, and we are now moving into the post-pandemic period.

The H1N1 Flu is still circulating. Based on experience with past pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come.  Pandemics, like the viruses that cause them, are unpredictable. So is the immediate post-pandemic period. There will be many questions, and we will have clear answers for only some. Continued vigilance is extremely important.  more

Other Emergency Operations News more

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The Department of the Interior deployed more than 6,100 personnel in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, with a peak deployment of 2,304 personnel at the height of operations.