Today, the village of Lona took center stage as the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP) extended its rollout through the Fagaloa district. 
Following the great momentum from Saletele, Uafato, and Samamea over the past few days, Lona has officially stepped up to become the fourth community in Samoa to launch local implementation, focusing on boosting grassroots disaster preparedness and risk awareness. 
Throughout the day, the community engaged in intensive risk-mapping sessions, open discussions on coastal vulnerabilities, and the refinement of local emergency response arrangements. 
The active participation of village chiefs, women’s committees, and youth groups highlighted the essential role that local knowledge plays in creating response plans that genuinely fit the unique landscape and needs of the Lona community. 
This successful rollout is driven by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), led on the ground by its Disaster Management Office – Samoa (DMO) and SΔmoa Meteorological Service. 
Heartfelt appreciation is extended to UNESCO and USAID for providing the vital financial assistance and technical support that makes this programme possible. 
MNRE officials praised the strong village leadership and active community spirit displayed in Lona today, marking another major milestone toward meeting internationally recognized Tsunami Ready indicators and building a safer, more resilient Samoa. 