Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an Oct. 07 executive order, Gov. Lemanu P.S Mauga extended for another 30-days the State of Emergency related to the earthquakes felt on Ta’u island in the Manu’a island group.

A provision of the governor’s order, under “Evacuation and Emergency Housing”, states that: “In case of imminent danger or an active disaster” the governor is authorized — under local law — “to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area, prescribe routes and modes of transportation for evacuation and provide for emergency housing.”

Samoa News notes that the Administration’s $7.4 million Supplemental Budget — which remains pending in the Fono — allocates $4.1 million for the emergency response in Manu’a including but not limited to response to the Manu’a tremors and potential volcano eruptions, evacuation of residents, construction of escape routes and safe zones.

In the executive order, the governor reminds the public that anyone who feels a strong or long earthquake, observes a sudden drop or rise of sea level, or hears a loud roar from the ocean should immediately go to higher ground.

And anyone who feels an earthquake should report it to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which was activated in August, and/or the National Weather Service Office in Tafuna once they are in a safe place.

Meanwhile, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) last week lowered the volcano alert level for the Ta’u island volcano as tremors continue to decrease. It also says that the earthquake swarm that began in late July is over.  (See Samoa News edition Oct. 05, 2022 for details).