Samoan Earthquake and Tsunami

[King of Kailua]

Sounds bad in Pago Pago from the limited info I could get while I'm away from home...
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hWZJ2teAMw[/YOUTUBE]

But the Tsunami warning in Hawaii has been downgraded to an advisory. Local civil defense on the Big Island has got the county closing all beach parks and shorelines for the day.

The expected arrival of any tidal action will be a bit after 1pm (it's now 11:48am as of this posting)

 

[Gruder]

Prayers for all affected. Early news out of Samoa was that it wasn't so bad, but that seems odd to me.

 

[King of Kailua]

There are reports of deaths but nothing is confirmed yet.

 

[King of Kailua]

A very brief news media account on this thursday morning(30sept) reported 300 deaths out of Pago Pago by a phone conversation with a resident. New Zealand News service TVZ reports 10,000 displaced residents who have had their homes swept away.

Apparently there were two consecutive walls of water that hit American Samoa for a localized Tsunami wave.

The first of several C-130 flights are beginning to leave out of Hawaii to supply aid to the region today. On the first flight is the president of American Samoa who happened to be visitng Hawaii for a conference on economics in the pacific region.

There is still very little information getting out and becoming available or with what I perceive as an appropriate level of concern for a US territory.

There was some effect of the tides in Hawaii but the most extreme account appears to be nothing more than a 3' increase in sea level at Haleiwa on O'ahu.

 

[stripec30]

Tsunami warning in California. Was sitting in on the disaster services conference call -- they're expecting a 62 cm wave to hit San Luis Obispo, Ca.

 

[perry]

I got in to work this morning and looked on my Google News and saw a blurb about some water in Samoa. Absolutely nothing was on the morning TV news. But, the more I read, it did indeed seem like there wasn't a big enough deal being made, especially considering that American territory has been hit - not that non-Americans are any less important, it's just that I'd expect American media to pay closer attention. Hopefully half the Pacific fleet is on its way to render aid by now.

 

[King of Kailua]

Hopefully half the Pacific fleet is on its way to render aid by now.

Well, I don't know about half the Pacific Fleet, but a Navy Frigate and 90 Hawaii National Guardsmen are being deployed today according to local news. Obama has also declared American Samoa to be a Disaster Area which should free up some pathways to aid.

It should be noted that Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and other pacific island nations have been affected by this tragedy. Hopefully there will be some international response to fill the gaps. I believe there are reports that New Zealand in particular has been stepping up to the plate in a punctual fashion.

 

[SRock]

Anytime something like this happens it is tragic and the loss of a single life makes it even more tragic. I agree, hopefully other nations will step up and help.

 

[King of Kailua]

Anytime something like this happens it is tragic and the loss of a single life makes it even more tragic. I agree, hopefully other nations will step up and help.

Yeah, particularly tragic as far as response goes because of it involving American territory. Last I heard FEMA was getting involved as of today.

Today's CNN coverage on the web