Climate Change Resilience
By Ms. Faumuina Felolini Tafuna'I writing for the Samoa Observer
21 July, 2015, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, PMC-3 - American Samoa is struggling to staff its weather and climate office, according to the US regional weather office.
Currently there are 10 positions at the center based at Pago Pago - one meteorological technician position has been vacant for more than two years, and a second position for four months. A recently filled technician position was vacant for 18 months.
Mr. Ed Young (pictured above) is Deputy Director for the National Weather Service Pacific Region, (NWS), a branch of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He says it is already difficult to fill positions in offices nationwide, even harder in the smaller and remote offices where being able to speak the local language is crucial. As a result, staff in American Samoa have to work many long hours.
"I give credit to the staff that are there and their resolve shows their true dedication to the NWS mission of saving lives," said Mr. Young. "Fortunately two students from American Samoa just recently graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Meteorology, one from San Jose State University, the other one from the University of Hawaii.
"One is now on the staff undergoing training. The other graduate is awaiting the opportunity to apply for one of the two vacant positions."
Mr. Young said the office was thankful for the American Samoa Government for providing scholarship funds for students from America Samoa for undergraduate studies in meteorology. In the next two years, Mr. Young would like to see a fully staffed and trained office.
The NOAA Weather Service operates a Weather Service Office in American Samoa, located at the Pago Pago International Airport. Mr. Young presented a country report for American Samoa at the Third Pacific Meteorological Council in Tonga this week.
Included in his report, he also spoke about the first Rip Current Awareness Week, which the office ran in conjunction with its partners in Pago Pago, American Samoa in June of last year. The awareness week stemmed from deaths at sea with people getting caught in currents that took them out into the ocean.
His presentation said the office was also working with the local public safety and marine government officials so they can reach more people and interact better with the marine community and recreational ocean users to promote ocean safety."
The American Samoa office is also in the process of upgrading its internet connectivity so it could access more meteorological data and produce better forecasts. It also wanted to upgrade and increase its automatic telemetered rain and improve backup communications between the Weather Service Office in Pago Pago with the Samoa Meteorological Service, as well as continue ongoing efforts to increase outreach and the ability to reach village officials in Manua and Swains Islands.- #PacMC2015
Ms. Faumuina Felolini Tafuna'I is a freelance journalist writing for the Samoa Observer - www.samoaobserver.ws This article was developed as part of an activity led by SPREP that coordinates a Pacific Media Team of Reporters currently providing coverage on the Third Pacific Meteorological Council in Tonga - #PacMC2015. This is supported by a partnership including the Government of Tonga, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).
21 July, 2015, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, PMC-3 - American Samoa is struggling to staff its weather and climate office, according to the US regional weather office.
Currently there are 10 positions at the center based at Pago Pago - one meteorological technician position has been vacant for more than two years, and a second position for four months. A recently filled technician position was vacant for 18 months.
Mr. Ed Young (pictured above) is Deputy Director for the National Weather Service Pacific Region, (NWS), a branch of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He says it is already difficult to fill positions in offices nationwide, even harder in the smaller and remote offices where being able to speak the local language is crucial. As a result, staff in American Samoa have to work many long hours.
"I give credit to the staff that are there and their resolve shows their true dedication to the NWS mission of saving lives," said Mr. Young. "Fortunately two students from American Samoa just recently graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Meteorology, one from San Jose State University, the other one from the University of Hawaii.
"One is now on the staff undergoing training. The other graduate is awaiting the opportunity to apply for one of the two vacant positions."
Mr. Young said the office was thankful for the American Samoa Government for providing scholarship funds for students from America Samoa for undergraduate studies in meteorology. In the next two years, Mr. Young would like to see a fully staffed and trained office.
The NOAA Weather Service operates a Weather Service Office in American Samoa, located at the Pago Pago International Airport. Mr. Young presented a country report for American Samoa at the Third Pacific Meteorological Council in Tonga this week.
Included in his report, he also spoke about the first Rip Current Awareness Week, which the office ran in conjunction with its partners in Pago Pago, American Samoa in June of last year. The awareness week stemmed from deaths at sea with people getting caught in currents that took them out into the ocean.
His presentation said the office was also working with the local public safety and marine government officials so they can reach more people and interact better with the marine community and recreational ocean users to promote ocean safety."
The American Samoa office is also in the process of upgrading its internet connectivity so it could access more meteorological data and produce better forecasts. It also wanted to upgrade and increase its automatic telemetered rain and improve backup communications between the Weather Service Office in Pago Pago with the Samoa Meteorological Service, as well as continue ongoing efforts to increase outreach and the ability to reach village officials in Manua and Swains Islands.- #PacMC2015
Ms. Faumuina Felolini Tafuna'I is a freelance journalist writing for the Samoa Observer - www.samoaobserver.ws This article was developed as part of an activity led by SPREP that coordinates a Pacific Media Team of Reporters currently providing coverage on the Third Pacific Meteorological Council in Tonga - #PacMC2015. This is supported by a partnership including the Government of Tonga, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).