OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – AMERICAN SAMOA PRESS RELEASE (for immediate release - Thursday, March 26, 2009)
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Governor Togiola meets with local agencies to improve tsunami preparedness
(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono held various meetings this week with federal and local government officials and their staff members on the Territory’s failure to implement its emergency response plan for the tsunami warning bulletin that was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Honolulu, Hawai’i last Thursday, March 19, 2009.
At the meetings this week, attended by heads and staff from local departments of Homeland Security, Public Safety, Health, LBJ Hospital, Education, Samoan Affairs, KVZK-TV, NOAA National Weather Service, American Samoa Telecommunications Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, and Port Administration, Governor Togiola heard reports and assessments and announced that plans must be designed and implemented to improve the American Samoa tsunami preparedness.
Governor Togiola in announcing plans for an improved emergency response in the future recapped the event, which led to the meetings that were held this week, with a statement.
GOVERNOR TOGIOLA’S STATEMENT
“On March 19, an earthquake off Tonga islands caused a tsunami warning to be issued at 7:30 AM (American Samoa time) for the islands of Tonga, Niue, Kermadec (near New Zealand), Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji and American Samoa. The quake did not generate a damaging tsunami wave, so the warning was canceled 1 hour and 38 minutes later by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at 9:08 AM.
I was very disappointed and dissatisfied with our response. Our tsunami preparedness completely failed on March 19th. Now, after meeting with our departments, agencies and offices, we have regrouped and we all say that we have learned from our failure to implement our emergency response plans. From this failed experience, we recommit our collaborative efforts to improve our emergency response plans.
The time between an earthquake off island, or in the region, and the potential arrival of large tsunami waves could be very short leaving no time to warn the public, therefore, we need to continue educating the public on measures to take for their safety.
After several very productive meetings this week, we have identified key points that are critical to improve tsunami preparedness in the Territory.
- Improve tsunami warning program. Immediate detection is essential to detect tsunami risks to American Samoa. It is handled by NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa, Oahu, Hawai’i. Warning is received by NOAA National Weather Station in Tafuna, where warning bulletins and advisory notices are received. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is then activated, which triggers KHJ radio station, the primary broadcaster, who then activates KULA radio station, the secondary broadcaster. Both radio stations need to ensure that the console panels at their respective studios are operable, and if required, repaired and tested periodically.
- Funding to improve our Early Alert System communication capabilities are being examined.
- Ensuring that all levels of government come together in a unified response. The American Samoa Department of Homeland Security will secure Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) from departments, agencies/office and private sector to incorporate into the Territorial Emergency Operations Plan (TEOP).
- Improving public education and awareness through the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security by a continued education campaign to include all schools and the entire community that will significantly increase the readiness to respond properly in the event of a tsunami warning.
- Improving tsunami evacuation routes by updating a complete geological map of the roads and trails to determine which road and trail need improvements must be made in order for the public to move quickly and safely to higher grounds. “Tsunami Evacuation Route” signs should be posted along highways in vulnerable areas. American Samoa Department of Homeland Security in coordination with the Office of Samoan Affairs must improve the public’s ability to evacuate safely along these roads by working with local authorities and village pulenu’u (village mayors) to encourage agreements or permissions that allow for emergency access to safe, higher ground.
I wish to also highlight other important points in our discussions, which I consider very important to share:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE)
Schools should not have been dismissed; instead emergency plans should have been activated. Training of DOE school staff in the implementation of the emergency response plan must be coordinated with ASDHS.
Trails to higher ground must be created and mapped out and used in frequent exercises and drills. Knowledge of your school location and elevation will better formulate an evacuation plan.
SIRENS FOR NOTIFICATION / ADVISORY
We need sirens. The sound of a siren is to tell people to run now. Activation should come from the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security, not ASTCA. Every agency has an emergency response plan; we need to follow it. The Department of Administrative Services is responsible for the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building. Encourage each company located near the shoreline to have an emergency plan filed with ASDHS.
WARNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcements should be short and clear and in both English and Samoan. Education is the key component of this entire system. Uniform concise texts or scripts of the warning should be issued as bulletins and read in a calm manner to avoid creating a panic situation. Bulletins need to be filtered through the appropriate government officials.
RADIO STATIONS
The procedure is: The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is activated by NOAA National Weather Service in Tafuna to KHJ 93.1FM and 93.7FM located in he Pago Plaza, the primary EAS station. Ensure the console broadcast panels are always in working order at KHJ to air the activated emergency broadcast news, as well as the secondary EAS station – KULA 95.1FM in Vaitogi, and other radio stations. KVZK-TV does not have a console panel to receive the EAS notification.
EMERGENCY WEATHER RADIOS
In the past, NOAA Emergency Weather Radio have been issued by ASDHS through the Office of Samoan Affairs to village pulenu’u. An inventory has been ordered to locate these NOAA weather radios and to confirm it is in operable condition. Radios need batteries or power sources in order to receive signals.
COMMUNICATIONS / PHONES
During most emergencies, all telephone lines will jam and overload due to the high volume of telephone calls. We require the assistance of ASTCA, Blue Sky, and ASDHS to create an emergency bypass communications system for use by specified emergency departments, agencies and offices, and authorized emergency personnel only.
AMERICAN SAMOA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (ASDHS) ROLE
ASDHS is the lead agency for the emergency response. ASDHS requires a console broadcast panel to receive EAS activation from NOAA Weather Station in Tafuna. Once an alert or warning bulletin is received from NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, ASDHS will then issue a local warning alert for the general public.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUBMISSIONS
In a General Memorandum issued recently, Governor Togiola required submission of emergency response plans and/or Standard Operating Procedures from all departments, agencies and offices, due Friday, April 3, 2009.
NOAA / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Activate Emergency Alert System (EAS). EAS can reach all radios.
CHURCHES
Ensure Emergency Weather Radios are distributed to churches. Churches at higher elevation may be used as shelters during and throughout warning and alert.
OFFICE OF SAMOAN AFFAIRS
The Office of Samoan Affairs will coordinate with ASDHS for emergency response training for pulenu’u. Pulenu’u must file an emergency response evacuation plan for their respective villages. Trails to higher ground should be included in the plan so that they can be mapped.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Public Service announcements should be aired on all radio and television stations throughout the year. Repetition is a must. Uniformity is important so that all the messages sound alike and to mean the same message. Utilize National Preparedness Month and Disaster Week in September or October before the Hurricane season as a Territory-wide promotion of the emergency response plan. We must empower the Public through education to respond accordingly to disasters or emergencies.
PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE
We have had very productive talks in sharing information with our departments, agencies and offices so that we can coordinate an effective Tsunami emergency preparedness response. Reliable communication is important and it is absolutely critical that we take steps to ensure continuity of operations during emergencies. There is a dramatic increase in awareness of how devastating natural disasters can be when we are reminded of the images of the deadly tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and Hurricane Katrina. So, it is essential that our preparations reach the highest level of urgency and thoroughness.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of the heads of departments, agencies and offices and their staff for taking part in this much-needed discussion to address our emergency preparedness for any and all incidents.
Thank you to Director of American Samoa Department of Homeland Security – Tuala Michael Sala, Commissioner of Public Safety – Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, Acting Director of Health – Tuiasina Salamo Tuia, LBJ CEO Patricia Tindal, Director of Education – Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele, KVZK-TV Engineer Jeff Alwin, National Weather Service Meteorologist – Mase Akapo, ASTCA Special Projects Coordinator James Taylor, Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs – Afuola Nanai Kalasa, Director of Port Administration – Matagi Ray Mailo McMoore, AS-EPA Outreach Specialist Leota Vaea Ainu’u, and all staff members of these departments and agencies for attending the meetings.
