Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga on Tuesday, Dec. 19 issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency related to adverse weather conditions causing flooding and landslide hazards. 

This comes after American Samoa has been experiencing heavy rainfall, strong winds and high surf advisories.  And in addition the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forcst an elevated risk of tropical cyclones from Nov. 2023 to April 2024.

The order activates the Emergency Operation Center and authorizes all relevant government departments to use all necessary power to prepare, respond, mitigate and recover from an exiting emergency.

As part of the declaration price gouging is prohibited and the Attorney General is authorized to request justification from any business deemed to have substantially increased it’s prices during the emergency period.

The order will remain in effect until the governor finds the danger has passed or no longer than 30 days unless renewed by the governor.

The State of Emergency was effective Dec. 15, 2023.