By Staff Writer
The Cyclone Season is off to an early start with river flooding reported in several locations south of Upolu from heavy rainfall of the last few days.
The five (locations) at Siumu East, Nu’usuatia, Mulivai and Tafitoala are mostly around the Siumu and Safata district areas.
Malaemalu is the only location where flooding is reported further out to the east at Aleipata.
The Disaster Management Office and the emergency services FESA issued warnings at the outset for the travelling public to take extra precautions.
Some of the river crossings closed until further notice.
More heavy rains were forecast for the area and safety advisories were issued to village residents in the affected areas to be vigilant.
The cyclone season should start today officially, Sunday 1 November 2020, and will run up to April 2021.
The Meteorology Office released last Friday the 2020-2021 Cyclone Outlook for Samoa with a bright forecast of ‘normal’ weather for the period.
What that translates to is a 0-1 chance of Samoa being hit with wind forces of up to Category 3 or speeds of up to 129 miles per hour within a 400-mile radius.
Above average rainfall are forecast for Samoa “…as it transitions into the wet season couple by La Nina”.
Landslides are a “high possibility with river flashing especially when a tropical cyclone follows a prolonged period of wetter than normal conditions.”
“These events can cause a great deal of damage to property and lives. All communities are urged to remain vigilant, be alert and prepared through the 2020-21 tropic cyclone season and take heed to alerts, warnings and advisories whenever it is issued to reduce the loss of life and damage to property.’
With the official cyclone outlook in place for Samoa the responsibility for any national safety response is left to the Disaster Advisory Committee to map out.
The National Emergency Organising Committee, NEOC, is then responsible to overseeing all necessary safety actions necessary.
All NEOC operations will be fully co-ordinated from its newly opened $6.4 million tala emergency centre at Tuanaimato.
“The centre will support the nation’s efforts to reduce its vulnerability to climate change from Natural Disasters, through the provision of early warning systems and finance recovery mechanisms in the wake of disasters,” the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi explained at the official opening.
“It will also increase the resilience of Samoa and the Pacific Region as a whole to natural hazards such as cyclones, coastal river flooding, volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes by improving the quality of forecast and warning services.
“The new Building is also a recognition for everyone that are involved in all corners of Disaster Management, include responders, logistics, village communities, development partners, non government organisations, and the Australian and New Zealand governments.”
