American Samoa Environment & Hazard Risk

Tropical Cyclone Gita combined with an active monsoon trough generated destructive winds and torrential rainfall between the hours of 4 AM to 2 PM. At the peak of the tropical storm before 8 AM, the Weather Service Office and most of American Samoa lost power. The NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Office in Matatula recorded 64 kt gust 85 kt, and the radiosonde data reported 59 kt around 6 AM. Tropical Cyclone Gita caused widespread damages to homes, private and personal properties, government facilities, roads, electrical poles and wires, phone lines, and plantations across American Samoa. About 965 people including children evacuated to 12 shelters on the island of Tutuila. Numerous mudslides, flash flooding in small streams and low-lying areas were results of heavy rainfall. Heavy runoff swept debris and water into homes near valleys and small streams area. Several banyan trees and most breadfruit trees were uprooted. ||A cargo shipping boat in Manu'a, Uila o le Sami, sank in Ta'u. Another similar incident occurred where an alia boat sank in Fagaitua bay but was later recovered by the owners on the following day. A storm surge up to 2 to 4 feet swept debris over...

Observations from the PacIOOS buoy reported surfs over 16 feet with steep wave heights near 12 to 15 feet. This combination along with strong winds caused a small craft to capsize near the auasi port of entry. 15 passengers were onboard and had drifted to sea for nearly 2 hours until help was found. Unfortunately 2 passed away during this incident.

NWS Employee from the village of Amouli and friend of one of the fishermen who lost his life reported the tragic event. Strong rip currents swept two fishermen at the edge of the reef when surfs were transitioning from high to low tide.

News from the talanei reported two boys swept out to sea during high surf conditions due to strong rip currents.

Emergency Management Director confirmed a deadly landslide in Gataivai Village on the morning of the 26th. Local radio station, KHJ, reported mud and debris from the landslide broke through the walls of a home, toppling the bedroom of a 61-year-old woman who died on the scene. Emergency Management reported two children were also trapped but were rescued by local responders.

According to KHJ News, a 15-year-old boy died on the afternoon of the 12th after being swept away by high surf while swimming at the Leala Sliding Rocks shoreline on Tutuila island, near the villages of Vailoatai and Taputimu.