The village of Saletele today marked an important milestone in strengthening community resilience and disaster preparedness by hosting the first community event under Samoa’s Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP). 
The event brought together village leaders, community members, government representatives, development partners, schools, churches, and emergency management stakeholders to officially commence local implementation of the programme following its national launch during National Environment Week 2026. 
The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme is a community-based initiative designed to strengthen tsunami preparedness through enhanced risk awareness, evacuation planning, warning dissemination systems, community education, and coordinated emergency response. 
The programme forms part of Samoa’s broader commitment to protecting coastal communities from tsunami hazards and building resilience to natural disasters.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in awareness sessions, discussions on tsunami risks and preparedness measures, community planning activities, and practical demonstrations aimed at strengthening local readiness. 
The event highlighted the critical role communities play in ensuring that every resident understands tsunami risks, evacuation procedures, and the actions required during an emergency. 
Saletele’s participation demonstrates the village’s commitment to becoming a safer and more resilient community through the implementation of internationally recognized Tsunami Ready indicators. 
The programme will support communities in developing and strengthening evacuation maps, warning systems, public awareness initiatives, and response plans that are tailored to local needs and circumstances. 
The Government of Samoa, through the the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and, partner organizations, acknowledges the leadership and commitment shown by the village of Saletele in hosting the first community event under the programme. 
As Samoa continues the rollout of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme across participating villages, today’s event serves as an important step toward strengthening community preparedness and ensuring that coastal communities are equipped with the knowledge, systems, and confidence needed to respond effectively to tsunami threats.“Prepared Communities, Safer Futures.” 