Tsunami, Day After

We ventured out this morning to check on some friends and witness the damage. It's so bizarre because most of the island isn't affected at all. Around our area things look the same as usual.

But when you drive into Leone or into Pago Pago, everything changes. It's like you're driving into a movie set of a warzone. People are sitting around taking in the situation. Many have begun cleaning up with rakes, shovels, buckets, and hoses. In Pago Pago most people are wearing face masks or t-shirts to protect themselves from the dust and fumes. Everything smells like dried up salt water, or mucky brine, with whiffs of fuel.

Here's what we saw.




















Everyone has a story to tell. We've heard tales of heroism and very close calls. You can see people in groups raising their arms to show the water level or waving them to show the waves. There is a slow line of cars and buses--locals trying to take in the magnitude of the damage.

Now as the numbers are being reported, people are finding out who made it through, and who didn't. Everyone is emotional and dealing with the the tragedy as best they can. We sadly found out that two of our dear friends were casualties in the village of Asili.
This is what remains of their home and store.


These photos are from the village of Leone.


Here's our what's left of the Leone Post Office.

I never got my birthday package. Maybe someone else did.

Life will not be the same here, but Samoans are strong and positive.
Thanks for your concern and prayers.

Tsunami Damage Pictures

Our next door neighbors, Paul and Melanie Brown were in Pago today cleaning debris at the National Park Service office. The office is in Pago Plaza which also houses USDA, NOAA, Social Security, FBI, KHJ radio station, a jewelry store, a clothing shop, DDW internet cafe, and the island's only optometry clinic. It's location at the end of Pago Harbor made it a target for the most intense waves.

They posted pictures and observations on their blog here.

Again, we're safe and not really affected by the disaster, but our prayers go out to the many people who lost homes and loved ones today.

Tsunami Tuesday

You may have heard of the earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa today. Our family is fine, and so far all the families we know are fine as well, thankfully. Our house is nestled in a valley at about 200 ft above sea level and about 2 miles from the ocean. So we haven't been really affected by the tsunami.

Around 6:50 this morning as we were getting ready for the day we started feeling shaking. Everything was rattling: doors, fans, windows. It felt like someone was picking up our house and swaying it. We quickly gathered the kids and got under two doorframes until it finished. We estimate it was about a minute, but some people say longer. It felt long, so we knew it was a big earthquake.

After things calmed down, we got dressed, ate breakfast, and wondered if we should send Ella to school. We decided to keep her home for awhile because they send kids home for tsunami warnings, and we hadn't heard anything yet. We didn't know the extent of the damage until we started seeing the news.

We've been hearing news of damaged buildings, roads, and homes. Heavy damage in Pago Pago and Leone. We've heard of looting, injuries, and casualties. Ephraim's coworker Francis witnessed the tsunami in Fagaitua, and said it looked like footage from Indonesia. Our neighbors Paul and Melanie and James are out right now to clear roads and help out. I'm sure we'll get a report from them this evening. Our Filipino neighbors are hosting a dozen families today until things clear up and they feel safe enough to go home.

American Samoa is so close to the Tonga Trench where the earthquakes happen that there is no warning--just the earthquake, and if it's strong enough you head for high ground. People here panic and clog up the roads. We're staying home and staying safe.

Thanks for your prayers and concern!

Baby Do's and Don'ts

For all the parents of our new little friends born recently, Zachary, Maria, Lilikoi, Bo, Kadin, John-Luke, Ansley, Alston. Taking care of a baby is like learning or relearning a skill. It takes practice. Fortunately babies are forgiving.

Check out some more Baby Safety Tips.

School Days

This is like a month late.


Ella's in kindergarten now. On her first day she was so brave! Only a few tears. We found her classroom, met her teacher, and she just walked right in. Her only complaints so far are the "icky boys" who say silly things and comment on her lunches. (Why does she have oranges and not chips?)

Ephraim's class started last Monday--Intro to Aquaculture. I'm planning on attending so I can finally understand what the heck he's talking about all the time.

Good luck in the new school year!

Airport Blowholes

Our adventure last Saturday--Airport Beach. Crashing waves, exploding blowholes, gusty wind, rough rock, and clambering through bushes. We had to time our passage past the blowholes and dodge splashes. We didn't get too wet. Ephraim said we were transporting hobbits through Mordor. In a fun way.

The plane flying in from Apia

And the Livin' is Easy