[HoustonHam] Tsunami and the effects on radio broadcast in American Samoa

[Chris Boone]

-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Kirk Harnack
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 3:05 PM
To: 'Broadcasters' Mailing List'
Subject: [BC] American Samoa tsunami

American Samoa - Report from our Station Manager, Joey Cummings - the
earthquake that was 190 km SW of Samoa (the Independent Nation of Samoa) has
caused a tsunami in American Samoa.  Hardest hit is the Pago Harbor area.
Wave at the back of the harbor was 20 to 40 feet.   Two tuna canneries (one
closing due to increase in minimum wage) are at sea level there, as is the
main power generating plant at Satala.  No AC power to our studios and
likely none to our transmitter site, 1,600 feet above Satala on Mt. Alava.
All cars in our building's parking lot are washed out to the harbor.
KKHJ-FM and WVUV-FM - our offices, too - are on the 2nd floor of the Pago
Plaza building.  They're OK. But the ground-mounted generator (landlord
provided) is non-operable now.  

Reports of cars, "aiga busses" (private busses), and school busses being
washed out to the harbor or to sea.  Surely dozens missing and presumed
drowned.
Dozens if not hundreds of businesses surround Pago Harbor - many of them are
now gone.

Please pray for the search and rescue effort that is now underway.

Our stations were able to activate EAS and get two warnings out to the
public before the tsunami hit.  Thankfully, we have the most popular
stations on the island (Tutuila, American Samoa).  

Kirk Harnack