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American Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami

All POL/SITREP's for this site American Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami
Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS - EPA Region IX
POLREP #11
SitRep #11 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
American Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
Subject: POLREP #11
SitRep #11
American Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami

Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS
Latitude: -14.2794000 Longitude: -170.7006000

To:
From: Jeremy Johnstone, Situation Unit leader
Date: 10/9/2009
Reporting Period: 10/8/09 0700 - 10/9/09 0700 SST

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: American Samoa    Contract Number: NA
D.O. Number: NA    Action Memo Date: 9/30/2009
Response Authority:      Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: FEMA    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit: American Samoa
Mobilization Date: 9/30/2009    Start Date: 9/30/2009
Demob Date: 9/30/2010    Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: NA    RCRIS ID: NA
ERNS No.: NA    State Notification: American Samoa
FPN#: NA    Reimbursable Account #: NA


1.1.1 Incident Category
Earthquake
Tsunami

1.1.2 Site Descrip
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the US, located in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the Manu'a Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory. The 2000 census showed a total population of 57,291.  The total land area is 200.22 km2 (77 sq mi), slightly more than Washington, D.C. 

Damage is widespread with 33 known fatalities on American Samoa, and 1 missing.   Most damage occurred at Pago Pago Harbor and Village, and at the western end of the island, at Leone and surrounding villages.

1.1.2.1 Location
American Samoa

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

On 29 Sep at 1048 hrs PST, (0648 Samoa Standard Time) an 8.0 magnitude earthquake occurred 120 mi southwest of American Samoa.  The 6:48 am local time (1048 hrs PST) earthquake triggered a tsunami that struck American Samoa (population 65,000) with a series of five waves.  All waves struck the island and Pago Pago, the main village.  The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported the wave height at 15 feet for Pago Pago, American Samoa.  Over 73 aftershocks have been reported, including nine aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 4.5 to 6.3.


1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA Chris Reiner (OSC) was deployed on 9/30 to make a rapid needs assessment.  As of 10/9, he is overseeing the collection and staging of orphan containers and household hazardous waste.

Situation Summary

 

On 09/29 at 1048 hrs (PST) an 8.0 magnitude earthquake occurred southwest of American Samoa.  The earthquake triggered tsunamis that struck American Samoa (population 65,000) with one wave reported at 15 feet striking Pago Pago, the main village.  Damage is widespread with 33 known fatalities, hundreds injured and many pulled out to sea.  73 aftershocks have been reported.

  • Power outages continue on the east side of the island.  LBJ Hospital is operational.
  • Airport is operational
  • Communication is spotty; only cell phone service is local from Samoa Teleco or Bluesky
  • Local Coast Guard personnel and EPA OSC Chris Reiner report no large oil or hazmat releases;
  • Community water systems suffered some damage, but they have almost been fully restored 
  • The governor of AS requested a federal disaster declaration on 9/29.

Operational Status:
  • EPA R9 has operated under a Pre Declaration Disaster Surge Account (7220SU-AS-EPA-02), covering RRCC activation and the rapid needs assessment on AmSam.  The projected end date for this MA is 10/09/2009.  The Region has also received a post declaration MA (1859DR-AS-EPA-02) for the same activities.  The projected end date for this MA is 10/10/200.
  • FEMA has established a JFO on American Samoa.  ERT's Duane Newell is staffing the ESF-10 desk at the JFO.
  • EPA R9 continues to provide situational awareness from the Regional EOC.  OSC Craig Benson is the duty officer this week.
  • EPA Region 9 has received a third MA (1859SR-AS-EPA-03) for tsunami-caused hazardous materials removal.  The projected end date for this MA is 10/30/09. 
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

 See Situation Summary at Section 1.1.3, above.


2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA OSC Chris Reiner was deployed on 9/30 to American Samoa, along with 1 START support staff, and 2 PST to perform a Rapid Needs Assessment.  As of 10/9 Reiner and team are collecting and staging household hazardous waste (HHW) and orphan containers.


Operational Status:
  • OSC Chris Reiner arrived in AS as ESF-10 support at 2300 SST on 9/30, with one EPA START contractor and 5 PST.
  • OSC Reiner, with support from START, PST, CST and Natl Guard, is collecting orphan containers when able. Pulled drums from the tide line and temporarily staged them along road with collection at the staging area at the Department of Public Works yard in Tafuna.  Mitigated released oil along main road with sorbent material.
  • Collected 35 drums, 1 250-gal marine fuel bladder, approximately 12 compressed gas tanks and cylinders, 20 car and marine batteries, and 30-40 smaller containers of various hazardous materials.  Collected materials were taken to staging area in Tafuna.  This included material strewn about Pago Pago streets, park, and shoreline, as well as some containers floating in the harbor.  This work was carried out by EPA, USCG Pacific Strike Team, and Civil Support Team, Hawaii National Guard.  The most surprising finds were a damaged 55-gallon drum of isocyanates, and 3, 1-gallon cans of isocyanates.
  • Built 6 containment cells at the Department of Public Works yard in Tafuna, for storage of collected materials. 
  • Hazard categorization work has commenced on the containers collected to date and stored at the DPW Tafuna yard.
  • AS govt plans has set all gov't workers home Thursday thru Monday (minus Sunday) to work with their villages to haul out debris to the main road.  ESF-3 is planning a massive collection effort. Reiner and ASEPA have been mtg. with the village Chiefs with advise on separating HHW from other debris.  They will be making another sweep across the island and staging it at the DPW yard in Tafuna and hope to get a Public Service Announcement out re HHW segregation.
  • Reiner and team are visiting each village, setting up HHW collection sites and have started to collect, categorize and stage HHW.
  • Reiner and crew will be working today (10/9) at the Goodyear scrap metal yard.  On site are 2 cracked pole transformers and 2 large bldg transformers.  One of the latter is reported to have been emptied.  The transformers will be sampled for PCBs.  There are also approximately 100 cylinders, including for ammonia and chlorine at the Goodyear yard.  It is not presently known which or how many of these cylinders may not be empty.  They will be inventoried, weighed and secured as appropriate.  It is possible that some of these cylinders may have been brought to the site by contractors working for ASPA.  Responsibility for handling and securing these cylinders will need to be determined.
  • ASPA is concerned about the structural integrity of the reservoir dam that sits above Pago Pago, with a concern that water levels are approaching capacity and that the dam may have been compromised in the recent quake.  ASPA is seeking to lower reservoir water levels by discharging to the stream that runs by Pago Plaza and out to the harbor - which if of course full of huge amounts of trash and smaller debris (cars, shipping containers, transformers, etc., have already been pulled out).  Reiner and team have been tasked with conducting an assessment of the stream to see what this new flow might transport out to the harbor (USCG is maintaining a line of boom at the mouth of the creek). So far they have located an oil release coming out from a shipping container had been thrown about 1/4 mile from the harbor, and had ended up wedged against a tree and bridging the creek.  Reiner and ASEPA built a couple of small rock dams and placed sorbent pads, and achieved decent containment of it for the moment, but can't easily access the oil source.  USCG PST subsequently secured this leak.
  • FEMA has prepared a Mission Assignment directing USCG to remove tsunami related debris from Pago Pago Bay and inland waters subject to tidal influence.  It is expected that this $2M MA will be signed today (10/9).
  • About 800 to 1,000 gallons of oil have been pumped and hauled off island. 
  • R9 EOC has sent material and equipment (pallets, overpacks, drums, containers, tyveck, gloves, etc.) to American Samoa for OSC Reiner to use in securing the household hazardous waste (HHW).  This material should arrive in AS by 10/10. Update (10/9) - This shipment has been delayed.  R9 is working to establish its current location and revised ETA at AS.  Subsequent SitReps will provide status updates.
  • R9 EOC has uploaded facility info into Response Manager.

 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Not Applicable

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Not yet applicable 
 
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
For the operational period 0700 to 1700, the following resources on this response:  At the EOC, EPA has a total of 4 staff.  In the field, EPA has 1 OSC and 1 ERT, 1 START, and 5 PST assigned to EPA.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA Chris Reiner and 1 START have conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment.  Reiner and START are currently collecting and staging orphan containers and HHW.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Schedules have been prepared for to staff the EOC for the next week (thru 10/16).

2.2.1.3 ISSUES
  • The main priorities of the disaster operations remain focused on restoration of commercial power in the eastern district, and repairs and restoration of the region's infrastructure.
  • FEMA reports electricity restored to 1/3 to ½ of Tutuila Island.  One of two island power plants continues to be offline.   
  • The only international airport in AS is operational; a limited supply of jet fuel may become a logistical problem.  As of 1600 PST (2000 SST) 01Oct, 500,000 gallons of aviation fuel was verified on Tutuila Island. 
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the water system on American Samoa is functioning to near normal capacity but pressure is limited in some areas.   
  • Both canneries remain closed.
  • A damaged section of the Leone/Auma bridge has been temporarily repaired for emergency vehicles only.  
  • Roughly 65,000 cubic yards of debris has already been identified for removal.
  • More than 20 generators have already been deployed to American Samoa, with several already supplying power to critical infrastructure.
  • Two cruise ships are expected to land in Pago Pago, AS this weekend.  Each cruise ship will be carrying about 2,000 people.  Currently ASG and the cruise ships are planning to run the regular tours.  

2.2.1.4  Weather
AMERICAN SAMOA ZONE FORECAST   700 AM SST FRI OCT 09 2009

Today...Mostly cloudy with widely scattered showers. Highs in the upper 80s. Variable winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight Through Saturday...Mostly cloudy with widely scattered showers becoming partly cloudy with isolated showers saturday. Highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the near 80s. Variable winds 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Through Wednesday...Partly cloudy with isolated showers becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers monday. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 70s. Variable winds 5 to 10 mph becoming east winds 5 to 10 mph monday.

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer


2.6 Liaison Officer


2.7 Information Officer
On 10/7 Region 9 posted an advisory on our website (http://www.epa.gov/region09/islands/samoa.html) to inform the public of our activities in support of the tsunami recovery efforts.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
EPA is coordinating its efforts under FEMA. OSC Chris Reiner is acting as a Division Group Supervisor under the ESF-10 function in the field.  Duane Newell of ERT is staffing the ESF-10 desk at the AS JFO.  The Region 9 EOC is being minimally staffed sufficient to support the filed activities.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA is working with FEMA, the USCG and local authorities in American Samoa.

4. Personnel On Site
  Chris Reiner has been deployed as OSC. Seth Heller is START in support of Reiner.  USCG PST has 5 personnel assisting Reiner.  Duane Newell of ERT is staffing the ESF-10 desk at the JFO.

The R9 EOC was staffed on 10/9 by:
Kay Lawrence - Regional Incident Coordinatoor
Jeremy Johnstone - Situation
Lawrence Torres- Resources
Kathy Meltzter - Finance
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.