The American Samoa Department of Homeland Security has completed installation of about $600,000 worth of new outdoor and indoor sirens across the territory.
Lancaster Allen, National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Coordinator, at homeland security says 21 of the new indoor sirens are in offices of schools along the coast.
The others are installed at government buildings such as the Executive Office Building (EOB), Port Administration, the Tafuna Airport and Fagatogo marketplace.
The new outdoor sirens are installed in the villages of Onesosopo, Fatu & Futi, Fa’ilolo, behind LBJ Hospital, behind the Fagatogo ECE, and the villages of Sa’ilele and Amaua.
The contractor is Paramount Builders, which installed the first emergency sirens.
Allen says DHS has submitted a funding proposal for additional sirens for schools in Manu’a islands and other villages on Tututila which have requested sirens.
This Friday, the first Friday of the month, the new outdoor sirens will be tested as part of the monthly territorial wide emergency siren test .
Allen says the indoor sirens need some finishing work before they are ready to be tested.
Village mayors and members of the public are encouraged to call and report any issues with respect to siren testing this Friday especially with the newly installed sirens.
Call Homeland Security 699-0411 or the Emergency Operations Center at 699-3800.
