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PAGO PAGO, American Samoa >> Officials in American Samoa are testing warning sirens that are expected to be able to alert residents to tsunamis like the deadly earthquake-generated waves that hit the U.S. territory in 2009.
Four sirens in four shoreline villages on Thursday blasted a long tone followed by messages in Samoan and English announcing a test of the emergency management public warning system. Officials said the broadcast was clear.
By May, 42 sirens are expected to be installed around the territory.
American Signal Corp. of Milwaukee was awarded a $1.1 million contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to install the siren system.
Thirty-four people in American Samoa died in the Sept. 29, 2009 tsunamis. Some argue lives would have been saved if the territory had a siren warning system.
