While most Americans’ attention was focused on the massive flooding in Georgia’s Atlanta area last fall, an equally destructive event was taking place 5,000 miles away in American Samoa, a U.S. territory south of Hawaii.
The group of islands experienced both an earthquake and a tsunami, the first such disaster it has seen in 50 years. Trained relief workers quickly came to the aid of the 65,000 residents following the disaster, but several months later, its effects can still be felt daily.
For instance, about 1,700 families remain displaced, said Terry Henderson, disaster relief operations consultant for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). “We Baptists and the Mennonites are the largest groups, and there are probably only 20 volunteers [here] for this repair,” said Henderson, who is currently in American Samoa to help coordinate Southern Baptists’ rebuilding efforts. “[The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has] asked us to train and apprentice people who can learn to rebuild.” By teaching the American Samoans FEMA-approved construction methods, the agency can ultimately save money by sending fewer volunteers.
Encouraging residents to take part in the rebuilding process will be simple, said Leon and Sarah White of NAMB’s national response team.
The Whites, members of First Baptist Church, Alabaster, who travel all over the United States helping people after various disasters, went to American Samoa shortly after the earthquake and tsunami to serve as chaplains as well as organize and plan for reconstruction.
They were impressed by the people’s optimism and self-motivation.
“They never lost the smiles on their faces even though they’d lost everything they owned,” Leon White said, adding they all chipped in to help each other. “The homeless just moved in with other family members. They weren’t sitting around waiting for someone to do it for them,” he said.
According to Henderson, many people have started making repairs on their own, but there are obstacles for them to overcome. FEMA remains hesitant to approve the start of construction on a building unless all the materials are already on-site. It is hoped this measure will prevent the possibility of unfinished projects. Getting sufficient funding for supplies is the main problem at this point, so monetary donations are the best way to help with relief efforts, Henderson said.
As reconstruction begins, he is optimistic — but also realistic — about the process. “It could be a year or two,” Henderson said.
To donate to the relief efforts in American Samoa, send checks marked for “Samoa Tsunami Relief” to the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, P.O. Box 11870, Montgomery, AL 36111-0870.
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