On our last day, we toured the eastern and southern Upolu coasts, where the tsunami had its biggest impact. We were struck by the widespread devastation, not dissimilar from that of hurricanes (cyclones). In a few low-lying locations there was evidence that the tsunami reached inland approximately 1 kilometer. Unlike in American Samoa (Tutuila), there [...]

On arrival in Western Samoa we were struck by both the marked landscape and cultural differences between Western and American Samoa. An independent country with a population of 170,000, Western Samoa has a more urban and touristic feel than its American counterpart. The mountains of Upolu, the most populated of the Western Samoan islands, are [...]

We spent most of the day in meetings with the American Samoa Government (ASG) and the various federal agencies. We first met with the ASG Department of Public Works director and staff to discuss building code issues. Then we met with a local architect and an engineer from (Western) Samoa who happened to be in [...]

Wednesday began with a trip to the east end of the island. We planned a stop at Auasi, where there is a terminal for a small ferry between the main island of Tutuila and the island of Aunu’u, and Tula, a village near the eastern tip of the main island. The stone breakwaters protecting the [...]

Tuesday began with a trip to the airport area, west of Pago Pago, to visit the National Park Service (NPS). We had no official business there, but our driver for the week, Jay, had an appointment with NPS. We were unable to secure a rental car during our visit (American Samoa is not a big [...]

On Sunday, October 25, 2009 a technical assessment team comprised of Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute members traveled to the Samoan islands to study the impact of the September 29 earthquake and tsunami on the region’s infrastructure. The team will remain in the region until November 1, examining the performance of systems such as [...]