![This photo, courtesy of Faleosina Voigt was posted on social media by ASPA along with the photo caption, “The cause of the power outage at Masefau Elementary School — a fried rat”. It didn’t say when this incident occurred, during or after Tropical Storm Gita — but it highlights the problems ASPA’s crews are facing as they now go from building-to-building, whether a home, school, or place of business. They have to check it out first, before they can turn the power back on. [photo: Faleosina Voigt]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fried%20rodent.jpg?itok=MT-w73Sv "This photo, courtesy of Faleosina Voigt was posted on social media by ASPA along with the photo caption, “The cause of the power outage at Masefau Elementary School — a fried rat”. It didn’t say when this incident occurred, during or after Tropical Storm Gita — but it highlights the problems ASPA’s crews are facing as they now go from building-to-building, whether a home, school, or place of business. They have to check it out first, before they can turn the power back on. [photo: Faleosina Voigt]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — All public schools are scheduled to reopen today, after being closed all last week following damages caused by Tropical Storm Gita, which also resulted in the cancellati
![The remains of Falaula Paulo’s home in Pago Pago after Tropical Storm Gita destroyed it. He says he should have listened to his wife and ‘prepared’ for the coming storm, instead of listening to rumors and friends that it would just be ‘strong winds’. [photo by AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/home%20destroyed%20gita_0758.jpg?itok=5godg3sm "The remains of Falaula Paulo’s home in Pago Pago after Tropical Storm Gita destroyed it. He says he should have listened to his wife and ‘prepared’ for the coming storm, instead of listening to rumors and friends that it would just be ‘strong winds’. [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Some families have admitted that Tropical Storm Gita caught them unprepared, because they underestimated the damage it could cause.
![National Weather Service office in American Samoa. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/NOAA_Pago_Pagoweb_0.jpg?itok=In-K8QJ9 "National Weather Service office in American Samoa. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Complaints and concerns have been raised in the territory about the lack of emergency communication and updates during Tropical Storm Gita that struck American Samoa on
![A home destroyed by Tropical Storm Gita on the west side of Tutuila. [SN file photot]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/west%20side_%20gone%200131.jpg?itok=HqEnynSU "A home destroyed by Tropical Storm Gita on the west side of Tutuila. [SN file photot]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Preliminary assessment disaster (PDA) will be wrapping up soon, says US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public information officer, Victor Inge, who arrived e
Posing with 2018 Sau Ia (IFBB) Overall Men’s Champion, Ben Matale Fili, is Sau Ia’s Body Building President, Peter Reid, who announced it’s the first time the International Federation of Body Build
![[screen shot from live report at Newshub.co.nz]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-20%20at%207.47.38%20AM.png?itok=cG8rPaO5 "[screen shot from live report at Newshub.co.nz]")
Seven provinces of New Zealand are in a state of emergency as the remnants of Cyclone Gita bear down, bringing howling winds and torrential rain.
Here's what we know:
[ata: SN]
Ua poloaina e le Fa’amasinoga Maualuga le ali’i o Joeita Fa’aaligae ina ia ona tuua le atunu’u ae toe fo’i atu i Samoa ma nofomau ai mo le umi o lana nofovaavaaia, tusa lea e 12 tausaga.
![Cyclone Gita is set to lash New Zealand on Tuesday [image: Express UK]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/cyclone-gita-920862.jpg?itok=Dgr1cmV6 "Cyclone Gita is set to lash New Zealand on Tuesday [image: Express UK]")
Weather bosses warn that Cyclone Gita has the south island of New Zealand in the “firing line” before the storm makes landfall in the northwest tip of the island on Tuesday evening.
