Another report citing public education and awareness in American Samoa helped saved lives during the Sept. 29 earthquake and tsunami has being published. Its findings also drawi attention to additional landslides anticipated in the territory because of the substantial erosion damage from the tsunami, and structural damage caused more by the tsunami than by the earthquake.

This latest report was compiled by researchers from the California-based Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the California Emergency Management Agency, who traveled to American Samoa and Samoa the first week of October to study the response, impact and recovery from the disasters.

The group’s report was the subject of a public discussion in California last week.

FINDINGS

One of the findings by researchers is that of all villages on the island of American Samoa, Poloa sustained the most damage. They say all structures were destroyed except for the church, which sustained heavy damage. The sheer cliffs show trim lines of at least 12 meters.

•    Erosion occurrences: Substantial erosional damage from the tsunami was observed. Further, additional erosion and landslides are anticipated with future rainfall because of the vegetation destroyed from the Tsunami. Evidence of erosion was found in the villages of Poloa, Amanave, Asili, Leone, and Alao.

•    Structural Damages: A substantial amount of structural damage was observed on both Samoas. Generally, columnar structures were in better condition because there was less water pressure buildup because of less exposed surface area. However, several columnar structures with weak reinforcement were severely damaged.

Structural damage appeared to have only occurred from the tsunami and not from strong ground motion from the earthquake.

•    Scour: Scour around foundations was visible at many locations. This scour was caused by both the incoming wave and the return wave. Scour occurs when wave energy and pressure becomes concentrated around an object as water tries to pass around the object.

Most scour was observed around the foundations of homes; however, some scouring was also observed around utility poles, as well.

Scouring was most prevalent in Lepa (Samoa), Alao, and Leone in American Samoa. Additionally, some scouring was observed in Asili, Poloa, and Tula.

PUBLIC RESPONSE

The report says the “public responded very well to the tsunami” and its impacts,” adding that just the week before the tsunami, organizations were holding drills and discussing tsunamis with the local people of American Samoa.

“Thus, the people were well prepared when they felt the shaking to go to higher ground. This was a key factor in saving lives,” the report says. “Also, the timing of the event was beneficial since many people were awake, but had not yet left for work or school. Thus, families were able to evacuate together.”

However, the report says, people felt that warnings were not issued sufficiently in advance and this is particularly in Western Samoa.

The local Department of Homeland Security has documented that the official tsunami warning didn’t come from Honolulu until after the first wave struck Tutuila.

In an interview aired on Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) over the weekend, a researcher said the world must learn to respond more quickly to such events.

Kate Long, from the California Emergency Management Agency, said a lot of Samoans did the right thing by quickly moving to higher ground, but many didn’t.

“Many people didn’t realize that in a tsunami that comes from an earthquake...you’re never going to get an official warning before the wave arrives,” she told RNZI. “The earthquake is too close; it takes too long for the scientists to read their instruments.”

“So many people waited for the water to recede, but that’s the second sign of a tsunami. The first sign is the earth shaking,” she said and advised that if an earthquake lasts longer than 20 seconds or is so hard a person cannot stand, then go to higher grounds immediately.

This is the same advice reiterated yesterday by ASDHS director Mike Sala; and said this is the message being taken to the territory’s villages and schools during recent public awareness programs.

REBUILDING/REPAIR

Report researchers said recovery and cleanup efforts since the Sept. 29 disasters have been very successful and effective in American Samoa, where government workers who typically work in offices have been sent out to the field to participate in massive cleanup efforts.

According to the report, “Most villages have decided to rebuild similar structures at similar locations. However, many in the village of Poloa have decided to relocate to the upslope parts of the village.”

“The people the team met with were very optimistic. While there was understandably a lot of mourning as a result of the tragic losses, people were hopeful about the future,” said the researchers.

During the team’s study, they visited Poloa Amanave, Agagagulu, Asili, Leone, Matuu, Pago Pago, Leloaloa, Aua, Alofau, Alao and Tula. In Samoa the team visited six villages including Aufaga, Lepa and Lalomanu.