In an attempt to help Samoans move to higher ground during floods, five new sirens costing USD$65 million have been commissioned as wet weather is expected to cause flash flooding.

The sirens were installed separately and spread out within the Vaisigano Catchment Area at the E.P.C. Tanugamanono Power Station, Apia Park, the Ministry of Education compound, Magiagi and Lalovaea especially around the Vaisigano river which are vulnerable to flooding during extreme weather. 

The flood warning system will be a part of the National Early Warning System with the idea of reducing disaster risk and the vulnerability of Samoan families.

The Government with the help of the Green Climate Fund procured and installed five flood alert sirens under a contract with MCS New Zealand.

Flood alert sirens were launched on Monday this week at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) compound, where one of the five flood alert sirens was installed

The flood alert sirens, being the first of its kind in the country, stands 15 metres high and is connected to the existing emergency radio network that is managed and operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) through its Disaster Management Office.

The initiative and the Vaisigano Catchment Project was led and implemented by the M.N.R.E. under the auspices of the D.M.O. as well as the Water Resources Division and the Samoa Meteorology Division.

The sub-activities of the D.M.O. include the supply and installation of six hydro- meteorological monitoring equipment, three rainfall gauges, and three water level gauges and development of a flood warning, and decision support system for the Vaisigano river area.

The meteorological forecast, real time and pre-computed information is integrated into AN early warning system that is accessible by authorised M.N.R.E. flood operations officers.

In the event that a larger flood event is predicted in the early warning system, the M.N.R.E. will activate the three key parts of the sirens that is the warning tone, warning voice and warning lights to inform the public to prepare and to evacuate.