Flash Flood in American Samoa, May 19, 2003

A flash flood occurred across Tutuila from Nuuuli Uta to Pago Pago many communities near mountains and valleys. The main stream in Pago Pago rapidly overflow and flooded many homes and businesses along the stream and all of lower Pago Pago. A major landslide buried and killed 3 young men from the age of 18 to 23 years old in Pago Pago as two other men narrowedly escaped this same landslide. One of these men was med-vac to Honolulu for treatment as the Hospital at Fagaalu was 90% out of business as the whole hospital was flooded.A lady in her early 40s was killed by a landslide in Fagatogothat buried the Langkilde Business Center. Another young men in his 20s was rescued and was med-vac to Honolul on the same flight with gentleman from Pago Pago.Torential rainfall and excessive runoff flooded Pago Pago, Fagatogo, Lower Utulei, Fagaalu where the hospital is located. The whole village of Matu'u was flooded so as the inland and valley side of Nuuuli.Numerous falimies were evacuated and had taken up shelters at temporary shelters set up by the Territorial Emergecy Management Coordinating Office TEMCO. FEMA and TEMCO are currely providing assistance to families who were affected by the floods and landslides.President Bush had declared Amrican Samoa a disaster area due to the flash floods and landslides.