APIA, Samoa — October 14, 2026 — The United States and the Government of Samoa today launched Samoa’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA). The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), an applied research center of the University of Hawai’i, will lead the year-long assessment. It will give Samoan disaster managers detailed risk data down to the district and village levels, strengthening Samoa’s ability to anticipate, monitor, and respond to natural hazards.
“The United States is a Pacific nation, and a secure, resilient Samoa matters to us,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Matthew Younger “This assessment puts trusted American technology and expertise in the hands of Samoa’s disaster managers. That helps protect lives and livelihoods here and strengthens stability across our shared region.”
PDC will integrate assessment data directly into DisasterAWARE, its U.S.-developed early warning and decision support platform used across the Indo-Pacific. Samoan agencies can then use the findings for live hazard monitoring and planning during the assessment year, without waiting for the final report.
The project will help assess disaster risks and identify and prioritize actions to reduce the most pressing of these. By applying the results of this assessment and investing in the necessary resources, we can all help implement the recommendations and make substantial progress in disaster risk reduction, said Steve Recca, Senior Operations Advisor, Pacific Disaster Centre “But, this project is not just about assessing risks; it’s about building a stronger, safer, and more resilient nation.”
PDC has partnered with Pacific Island nations for more than 2 decades on multi-hazard early warning, risk assessment, and decision support.
About the Pacific Disaster Center: PDC is a University of Hawai‘i applied research center that has worked alongside Pacific Island countries for more than two decades on multi-hazard early warning, risk assessment and decision support.
U.S. Embassy Apia
