Hawaii Guard members assess damages in American Samoa

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PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AFNS) --  Hawaii National Guard members assessed damages in the Pago Pago and Leone villages of American Samoa Oct. 1 after arriving to the tsunami-ravaged island after a C-17 Globemaster III flight from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. 

More than 30 active-duty Guard members split into two groups to conduct search and rescue and assessment procedures after landing at the island devastated by an earthquake-caused tsunami that struck the region Sept. 29. 

The units participating in Operation Wave are the 93rd Civil Support Team, which is a joint unit composed of active-duty Army National Guard members and active-duty Air National Guard members, while the 154th Medical Group/chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives enhanced response force package are all Air National Guard members. 

"It's rewarding coming out here to something like this to help those in need," said Capt. Jason Iyomasa, the CERFP team leader and a native of Honolulu. 

Captain Iyomasa and three members of his team joined with Maj. Joe Laurel, the 93rd CST team leader and Honolulu native, and nine of his members as they coordinated with local Pago Pago Harbor authorities with assessing the needs of the area. The remaining members traveled to Leone to help officials locate a child that was reported missing at the conclusion of the tsunami. 

"We met our objectives of checking the safety of individuals and families, assisting local authorities with search and rescue efforts and assessing vital needs of the local populace in the impacted areas," Major Laurel said. "Our coordination with local authorities went very well." 

The main problem was structural as many people were displaced because their homes were destroyed. 

"As our search and rescue efforts finish, we now will start to focus on finding shelters for the many displaced, along with finding distribution points for food and water," Major Laurel said.