Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is emphasizing the guidance of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) regarding the ongoing felt earthquake shaking in the Manu’a Islands for the past few days, and welcoming news that NOAA is responding to American Samoa. She expects further public guidance and communications from USGS or NOAA as necessary.

 “I just want to encourage people to follow this guidance, along with any future safety instructions from government officials, as well as their own common sense,” said Uifa’atali Amata. “It’s good to hear this assessment from the expertise of NOAA and USGS, so as to not live in fear, but please be observant about anything unexpected or abnormal from the ocean, and be wise about any rocky outcroppings or steep slopes with rockslide potential. Have a plan to rapidly move to higher ground already thought out, know where children and elderly family are, and perhaps consider limiting certain ocean activities for a few days. I know our people have strong faith in unexpected or uncertain times.”

The USGS reports that the earthquakes may be caused by volcanic activity, but regards a large explosive eruption as extremely unlikely, according to the federal experts responsible for monitoring and assessing the situation.

 “I want to thank USGS Regional Director Dr. Jill Rolland and all her staff for keeping on top of the situation,” continued Uifa’atali. “I appreciate knowing that they are keeping our people informed, and I look forward to further regular communications from NOAA or USGS to ensure safety and peace of mind for our people.”

The USGS has released the following information:

• •            Earthquakes have been felt by residents of Taʻū (the largest of the Manuʻa group of islands) in American Samoa, for a few days and are ongoing. 
• •            A team of experts is working on understanding the cause of these earthquakes and will share more information when it is available.
• •            There is a chance these earthquakes are caused by volcanic activity, but an eruption like Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga earlier this year is considered extremely unlikely by the USGS.
• •            Exercise caution. If you are on the coast in American Samoa and feel a strong or long earthquake, see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean, or hear a loud roar from the ocean, know that a tsunami could follow those warning signs, and immediately move to higher ground. 
• •            The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is responsible for monitoring volcanoes in American Samoa and U.S. Geological Survey is working on a plan to extend seismic monitoring to the island of Taʻū. 
• •            Residents can greatly assist these monitoring efforts by reporting accurate times that earthquake shaking is felt to the National Weather Service Office in Pago Pago. 

(Editor’s note: You can find the complete USGS report at samoanews.com linked to yesterday’s front page story titled “Homeland Security monitoring underwater volcano shaking Manu’a”.)