RAPID: Tsunami Reconnaissance of the 29 September 2009 American Samoa and Samoa Islands Earthquake

Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

This is RAPID response award to study the immediate and transient effects of the large September 29, 2009 earthquake and resulting tsunami in American Samoa. A team of ten experts from eight institutions traveled to the islands to measure and examine impacts of the earthquake and tsunami on built infrastructure, erosion and deposition of sediments, extent and duration of flooding and innundation, and the effectiveness of local warnings and previous outreach and education about the tsunamis and their danger. Broader impacts of the work include inter-institutional collaboration and training of graduate students in rapid response field work. The work will also benefit our understanding of tsunami impacts to engineered structures, to humans, and the natural environment. It will also provide insights into how and how fast populations respond to tsunami warnings, as well as which stimuli and/or types of education elicit the best response.