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LT Elena Vaouli, MPH Regional Representative Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry & US Public Health S

2009 Samoan Tsunami Environmental Health Observations & Lessons Learned. LT Elena Vaouli, MPH Regional Representative Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry & US Public Health Service Caribbean Regional Response Team Meeting October 27, 2010. September 29, 2009.

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LT Elena Vaouli, MPH Regional Representative Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry & US Public Health S

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  1. 2009 Samoan Tsunami Environmental Health Observations & Lessons Learned LT Elena Vaouli, MPH Regional Representative Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry & US Public Health Service Caribbean Regional Response Team Meeting October 27, 2010

  2. September 29, 2009 What would you (really) do?

  3. Objectives • Provide background and overview of American Samoa • Describe post-disaster environmental health conditions and response/recovery • Share observations and lessons learned

  4. Map. Wikipedia Maps. NPS, 2002

  5. Samoa Earthquake & Tsunami Earthquake: 8.1 magnitude earthquake 120 miles S/SW of AS 8 miles below seabed Tsunami: 3 – 5 waves 15 -20 ft high Inundation up to 620m Figure. USGS.

  6. Samoa Tsunami Impacts Fatalities = 32 (65K popn) Missing = 2 Damaged homes = 2,750 Destroyed residences = 276 Power generation = 60% loss

  7. Title Copy

  8. 8

  9. Environmental Health Concerns Water Quality Drinking water Surface water Wastewater Hazardous Waste Solid Waste Dengue Air Quality

  10. Drinking Water Quality • Water system damaged • Boil Water Notice issued • Mobile lab set up for intensive monitoring

  11. Drinking Water Quality • Illegal cross-connections (treated and untreated sources) • Use of alternative water sources

  12. Surface Water Quality

  13. Wastewater 200+ damaged septic systems & cesspools 119 permanently decommissioned Need for temporary toilets & showers

  14. Hazardous Waste Responded to: Oil spills Collected household chemicals Removed displaced 55-gal drums • Collected: • 50 drums (35 waste oil) • 165 car/boat batteries • 20 gal of acid • 300 gal paint-related wastes • 50 compressed gas tanks and cylinders • Etc., etc. etc.

  15. Solid Waste, Dengue & Air Quality Solid waste piles increase Creates artificial reservoirs for dengue-breeding mosquito Burning trash creates air quality hazards

  16. Lessons Learned Use what you have Local warning systems Educate appropriately Plan accordingly Practice, practice, practice Photo. NOAA.

  17. Questions?

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