On September 29, 2009, at 1:48 p.m. EDT, an 8.0 magnitude undersea earthquake occurred 140 miles southwest of American Samoa generating a tsunami. At approximately 2:25 p.m. EDT a 5.1 ft tsunami wave struck American Samoa causing significant loss of life and injuries, and damage to the coastal area of American Samoa.

Federal Response

Region IX

- Region IX RRCC activation level has changed to Level II

- Region IX Incident IMAT is deployed to American Samoa with DCO, DCE, and MERS support

- National IMAT West and Region VIII remain on a 2 hour recall to provide back-up to Region IX

- FEMA 1859-DR-AS was approved on September 29

FEMA Headquarters:

- FEMA NRCC transitioned to Level II on Saturday, Oct 3 with 24 hour operations and select ESFs present.

Current Situation / Status of Response:

- Priorities include power restoration and generator support, search and rescue, commodity distribution and completion of damage assessments

- 32 confirmed deaths

- Shelters are serving 3,559 meals three times a day (10,677 total meals/day) at 16 shelters. Overnight shelter population figures are difficult to verify as some people are using the shelters as feeding centers only, and returning home to sleep.

- JFO location has been identified and acquisition being finalized

- Several coastal villages have been badly damaged; extensive damage to roads, buildings and homes

- One of the two island power plants remains off-line. Work on long-term power generation issues continues.

- 5 generators are on-island and 4 are in place; Installations in progress, not yet complete

- Aviation fuel supply is available and fuels management plan being formulated

- Hawaii National Guard CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) personnel will redeploy to HI on Oct 4. Twelve (12) Hawaii National Guard Civil Support Team (CST) personnel will remain to assist with possible long term HAZMAT mission