Resilience and disaster recovery in American Samoa: a case study of the 2009 Pacific tsunami

Abstract

On September 29, 2009 an earthquake off the coast of American Samoa generated a tsunami that struck the islands minutes later. The local response to the physical impacts of the tsunami was swift and efficient, reflecting a core cultural competency of physical resilience. Cultural mechanisms for dealing with grief, however, proved insufficient in helping people manage the emotional trauma caused by the disaster. Groups within American Samoa are setting an example of how the culture can adapt by forging culturally grounded methods for addressing the emotional needs that arose in the tsunami's wake. Outside aid was critically helpful in some respects, though the amount of aid received and methods of distribution resulted in a significant disruption of local response efforts, social networks, and village hierarchies. The unique experiences of special populations (the elderly and immigrants) are assessed. Events are analyzed through the lens of the social support deterioration deterrence model.