Apia, Samoa – The United States continues to support Samoa in strengthening tsunami preparedness and helping communities become better equipped to respond to future tsunami threats.
Experts from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) worked with Samoa from April to July 2026 to strengthen the country’s tsunami warning capabilities.
The support included installing new hardware and software, training staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and reviewing tsunami warning operating procedures.
The United States also provided new computers, monitors and tsunami threat analysis software for the National Tsunami Warning Centre at the Samoa Meteorological Service.
At the community level, the MNRE’s Disaster Management Office (DMO), with support from ITIC, is making progress towards achieving Tsunami Ready Recognition for more than 30 communities.
The work includes community consultations, installing tsunami evacuation and warning signboards, and conducting tsunami exercises through the existing Community Disaster and Climate Risk Management (CDCRM) Programme.
The ongoing support highlights the strong partnership between Samoa and the United States in strengthening disaster preparedness, early warning systems and community resilience.
Tsunami Ready Programme
The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme was officially launched by the Government of Samoa through MNRE in May 2026.
The community-based initiative aims to strengthen tsunami preparedness through evacuation planning, warning systems, public education, drills, signage and coordinated emergency response planning.
The programme is funded by a US$471,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response.
The initiative carries particular significance for Samoa as communities continue to remember the devastating 2009 tsunami, which claimed 149 lives in Samoa, 34 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga.
The disaster devastated coastal communities and reinforced the importance of preparedness, early warning systems, community awareness and strong regional partnerships.
The United States has supported Samoa’s tsunami preparedness efforts for many years through NOAA, ITIC and PTWC, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and Samoan government agencies.
This support has included:
- Technical assistance for tsunami hazard assessments, preparedness planning and community risk communication.
- Training for emergency managers, forecasters and tsunami duty officers.
- Support for tsunami simulation exercises and evacuation drills.
- Development of public awareness and education materials.
- Assistance with community preparedness assessments and recognition under international Tsunami Ready standards.
- Regional exchanges and capacity-building workshops for Samoan experts and community representatives.
In 2017, Savaia, Lefaga became the first community in the Pacific to receive Tsunami Ready recognition, demonstrating Samoa’s leadership in community-based disaster preparedness and setting an important benchmark for the region.
Through ITIC and IOC of UNESCO, Samoa has also received technical guidance on tsunami evacuation mapping, hazard signage, awareness campaigns and preparedness standards.
The United States, through NOAA, has also supported tsunami warning capabilities across the Pacific by contributing to improved monitoring systems, forecasting tools, scientific expertise and specialised training.
Together, these efforts are helping Samoa strengthen its ability to detect tsunami threats, issue timely warnings and ensure communities know how to respond when lives are at risk.
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