The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported an 8.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1348 EDT in the Pacific Ocean near American Samoa. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports a 15 ft wave struck American Samoa (Population 65,000) causing at least 32 fatalities, flooding, and damage.
EPA Region 9 OSC Chris Reiner deployed with the FEMA assessment team out of Oakland on 9/30/09. He, with support from a START employee and USCG PST personnel, have completed a rapid needs assessment and are currently engaged in collection, categorization and staging of HHW and orphan containers.
SitReps 1, 2, and 6 may be found under the documents section as Word files. SitReps 3, 4, 5, 7 and beyond may be found at the SITREP/POLREP section of this site.