The people of Lefagaoalii village in Savaii did not let the rain and bad weather dampen their spirits as they worked with the Samoa Meteorological Service, the Disaster Management Office, Samoa Red Cross and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to erect information boards, tsunami signs and conduct a tsunami drill last week. This was part of a two-day programme where Lefagaoalii received information boards that had a spatial map of the village with marked evacuation routes and shelters, a compass with directions in the local language as well as emergency numbers and wind names and directions. The installation of signs was well supported by the village men and closely monitored by the chiefs. "The village is very grateful to the Government of Samoa, SPREP, Red Cross and Government of Finland for this support. It is the first time for Lefagaoalii to receive this type of assistance and we are very happy to be chosen out of the many villages in Samoa" said Pagaialii Pagaialii, Lefagaoalii Mayor.
Lefagaoalii Village Members during the handover of the FINPAC Pilot Project.
A tsunami drill was conducted on Thursday morning at 7 o'clock despite the heavy rain and winds advisory for the country. The activities concluded with the handover of some tools including handy portable radios, loud hailers and safety vests for the village's Response Teams. The activities were funded by the Government of Finland through the Finland-Pacific Project on Reduced vulnerability of Pacific Island Country Villagers' Livelihoods to the Effects of Climate Change. This project is implemented by SPREP and its partners, aiming to improve the capacity of National Meteorological Services to respond to the needs of communities with regards to hazardous weather and climate change.