Cyclone Val
Encyclopedia
Severe Tropical Cyclone Val, also known as Cyclone Val, was a cyclone
that struck Western Samoa and American Samoa
on December 4, 1991. Lasting until December 13, the cyclone moved in a west-to-east trajectory. The cyclone lasted for five days in American Samoa and was designated by the United States Government as a major disaster on December 13, 1991. Western Samoa suffered more damage than American Samoa. The cyclone devastated the islands with 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) winds and 50 feet (15.2 m) waves. The overall damages caused by Cyclone Val in American Samoa have been variously assessed. One estimate put the damages at $50 million in American Samoa and $200 million in Western Samoa due to damage to electrical, water, and telephone connections and destruction of various government buildings, schools, and houses.
until its dissipation on December 13 to the west of the southern Cook Islands
in the Pacific Ocean, Cyclone Val's effects lasted for 10 days. As the depression moved towards the northeast, its intensity increased. It was categorized as a tropical cyclone and named tropical Cyclone Val on December 5, 1991. Soon after, Cyclone Val headed in the direction of Samoa. The cyclone's northeasterly winds were intensifying at this time. Cyclone Val made its first landing in Western Samoa at Savai'i
on December 7 with a mean wind velocity of 45 meters per second (m/s). The gales extended 280 kilometres (174 mi) from the center; however, "Weakening upper-level winds caused Val to slow down for some time after crossing Savai'i and the system subsequently performed a small clockwise loop southwest of the island." This caused destruction in Samoa due to the high seas and the strong winds. Subsequently, after completing its loop track, it hit Tutuila
and the port of Pago Pago on December 10 with a mean wind velocity of 35 m/s. Cyclone Val then moved towards the southeast, to the west of the southern Cook Islands, and gradually dissipated. Winds then dropped to less than cyclone force. The center of Cyclone Val's storms initially moved from the northwest on December 5 and 6 with strong northeasterly winds; it reached Savaii on December 7, and hit the west and east coasts of Samoa for three days. Considerable damage was done in western Savai'i. Cyclone Val reached American Samoa on December 7, 1991, with 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) winds and 50 feet (15.2 m) waves. This continued until December 13; however, shortly after ceasing, the storm retreated in a loop and returned to the islands. The second pass of Cyclone Val was more devastating, with winds reaching 160 mph, and the most damage and loss of life.
According to the annual reports of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) American Samoa observatory, Cyclone Val struck Tutuila
Island, the largest American Samoan island, from December 7–10. Cyclone Val's eye passed over the southern end of the island. Some of the facilities of the observatory were damaged.
and Savai'i. Cyclone Val cut communications and power lines on the islands, and devastated fire stations, hospitals, government buildings, schools, and churches. Cyclone Val destroyed over 80% of agricultural crops. One of the first areas hit was the Western Samoan island of Savai'i, which was described as looking like an atomic bomb had hit. A local remarked that "there was no green, no buildings standing, no shelter; just total and complete devastation." Cyclone Val was reported to have killed 17 people and left 4,000 people homeless in American Samoa alone. Cyclone Val was assessed to have had an impact 50% worse than Cyclone Ofa, costing about $50 million in damage and putting a severe strain on agricultural production and the livelihoods of farmers on the islands. In Fagatele Bay at Tutuila Island
, where Cyclone Val made a direct pass, the coral reef
was completely destroyed. A large strip of the coast was also eroded. In response to this disaster, the NOAA deputed an assessment team to survey the damage to the reefs. In Tutuula, which accounts for 68% of American Samoa, the cable way, the longest single span cable way in the world, was permanently put out of service by Cyclone Val. The cable had previously connected Pago Pago harbor with the TV tower erected on Mt. Alava (491m). The TV tower at Utulei, one of the three TV channels in Samoa, was completely ruined by Cyclone Val, resulting in it being cannibalized for parts to maintain the two remaining channels. The Fagalele Boy's School, one of the oldest Europe
an-style buildings on the island in Leone
, was destroyed by Cyclone Val. According to a report of Greenpeace mission, the airport of Western Samoa was also devastated. The cyclone killed 15 people in Western Samoa, and one person in American Samoa. Preliminary estimates put the damages at US $200 million in Western Samoa and US $50 million in American Samoa.
The damage caused by Cyclone Val was severe, as it occurred 18 months after Cyclone Olf (January 1990). Food production was halted; forests were damaged, and animals and birds were lost. The forest loss was as severe as 45% of Savai'i's timber logs. The damage that Cyclone Val caused over the entire region of Samoa was reported to be US$ 368 million.
People were devoid of electricity and water supply for many days and depended on emergency aid. In Savai'i and Upolu, the percentage of destroyed houses was as high as 90%. In Western Samoa, the percentage was as high as 80%.
Val was reported as the worst cyclone to hit the Samoas in 100 years, as measured by the intensity of the wind and the severity of the damage it caused to the islands. The President of United States declared the event as a "major disaster", for which federal assistance was provided. The severity of Cyclone Val was aptly described by a local resident who stated: "But this Cyclone was stronger than me. For the first time I felt defeated I had never felt that before. I felt it was personal between me and Cyclone. I got depressed afterward."
Aid was provided to the affected zones based on a categorization as Category A, B, C, D, E and F. The categories are defined by the degree of damage suffered. Assistance covered individuals, households, and the State and local governments. The assistance encouraged private, nonprofit organizations (NGOs) to meet and discuss expense-related emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure. Assistance provided "Hazard Mitigation Grants" to secure life and property from hazards.
New Zealand
and Australia
provided considerable assistance to the affected population and helped with the reconstruction and recovery of infrastructure facilities. Samoans in the United states, Australia, and New Zealand helped finance the recovery by way of remittances to their relatives who suffered on the island.
investigated and discovered that the insurance company had altered American Samoa's insurance policy to exclude damages caused by "wind-driven water", despite the fact that it still covered cyclones. The case was taken to court, and in 1995, the jury awarded the American Samoa Government $28.9 million. Soon after, the amount was doubled to $57.8 million to include punitive damages. The total damages awarded by the judgment was $86.7 million, which the judge stated to be "the largest insurance bad faith verdict in the state of California in 1995".
The revenues of American Samoa for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003, which had been showing a downward trend, registered a substantial increase attributed to the insurance settlement of claims made to cover the damages caused by Cyclone Val. This resulted in fiscal surpluses. The deficit of US $23.1 million at the start of 2001 changed to a surplus of US $43.2 million by end of 2003.
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
that struck Western Samoa and American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
on December 4, 1991. Lasting until December 13, the cyclone moved in a west-to-east trajectory. The cyclone lasted for five days in American Samoa and was designated by the United States Government as a major disaster on December 13, 1991. Western Samoa suffered more damage than American Samoa. The cyclone devastated the islands with 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) winds and 50 feet (15.2 m) waves. The overall damages caused by Cyclone Val in American Samoa have been variously assessed. One estimate put the damages at $50 million in American Samoa and $200 million in Western Samoa due to damage to electrical, water, and telephone connections and destruction of various government buildings, schools, and houses.
Meteorological history
From the time of its emergence as a tropical cyclone on December 4 southeast of TuvaluTuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
until its dissipation on December 13 to the west of the southern Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
in the Pacific Ocean, Cyclone Val's effects lasted for 10 days. As the depression moved towards the northeast, its intensity increased. It was categorized as a tropical cyclone and named tropical Cyclone Val on December 5, 1991. Soon after, Cyclone Val headed in the direction of Samoa. The cyclone's northeasterly winds were intensifying at this time. Cyclone Val made its first landing in Western Samoa at Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
on December 7 with a mean wind velocity of 45 meters per second (m/s). The gales extended 280 kilometres (174 mi) from the center; however, "Weakening upper-level winds caused Val to slow down for some time after crossing Savai'i and the system subsequently performed a small clockwise loop southwest of the island." This caused destruction in Samoa due to the high seas and the strong winds. Subsequently, after completing its loop track, it hit Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
and the port of Pago Pago on December 10 with a mean wind velocity of 35 m/s. Cyclone Val then moved towards the southeast, to the west of the southern Cook Islands, and gradually dissipated. Winds then dropped to less than cyclone force. The center of Cyclone Val's storms initially moved from the northwest on December 5 and 6 with strong northeasterly winds; it reached Savaii on December 7, and hit the west and east coasts of Samoa for three days. Considerable damage was done in western Savai'i. Cyclone Val reached American Samoa on December 7, 1991, with 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) winds and 50 feet (15.2 m) waves. This continued until December 13; however, shortly after ceasing, the storm retreated in a loop and returned to the islands. The second pass of Cyclone Val was more devastating, with winds reaching 160 mph, and the most damage and loss of life.
According to the annual reports of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA) American Samoa observatory, Cyclone Val struck Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
Island, the largest American Samoan island, from December 7–10. Cyclone Val's eye passed over the southern end of the island. Some of the facilities of the observatory were damaged.
Impact
The cyclone destroyed over 65% of the residential homes on American Samoa and even more on the Samoan islands of UpoluUpolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
and Savai'i. Cyclone Val cut communications and power lines on the islands, and devastated fire stations, hospitals, government buildings, schools, and churches. Cyclone Val destroyed over 80% of agricultural crops. One of the first areas hit was the Western Samoan island of Savai'i, which was described as looking like an atomic bomb had hit. A local remarked that "there was no green, no buildings standing, no shelter; just total and complete devastation." Cyclone Val was reported to have killed 17 people and left 4,000 people homeless in American Samoa alone. Cyclone Val was assessed to have had an impact 50% worse than Cyclone Ofa, costing about $50 million in damage and putting a severe strain on agricultural production and the livelihoods of farmers on the islands. In Fagatele Bay at Tutuila Island
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
, where Cyclone Val made a direct pass, the coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
was completely destroyed. A large strip of the coast was also eroded. In response to this disaster, the NOAA deputed an assessment team to survey the damage to the reefs. In Tutuula, which accounts for 68% of American Samoa, the cable way, the longest single span cable way in the world, was permanently put out of service by Cyclone Val. The cable had previously connected Pago Pago harbor with the TV tower erected on Mt. Alava (491m). The TV tower at Utulei, one of the three TV channels in Samoa, was completely ruined by Cyclone Val, resulting in it being cannibalized for parts to maintain the two remaining channels. The Fagalele Boy's School, one of the oldest Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an-style buildings on the island in Leone
Leone, American Samoa
- Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :...
, was destroyed by Cyclone Val. According to a report of Greenpeace mission, the airport of Western Samoa was also devastated. The cyclone killed 15 people in Western Samoa, and one person in American Samoa. Preliminary estimates put the damages at US $200 million in Western Samoa and US $50 million in American Samoa.
The damage caused by Cyclone Val was severe, as it occurred 18 months after Cyclone Olf (January 1990). Food production was halted; forests were damaged, and animals and birds were lost. The forest loss was as severe as 45% of Savai'i's timber logs. The damage that Cyclone Val caused over the entire region of Samoa was reported to be US$ 368 million.
People were devoid of electricity and water supply for many days and depended on emergency aid. In Savai'i and Upolu, the percentage of destroyed houses was as high as 90%. In Western Samoa, the percentage was as high as 80%.
Val was reported as the worst cyclone to hit the Samoas in 100 years, as measured by the intensity of the wind and the severity of the damage it caused to the islands. The President of United States declared the event as a "major disaster", for which federal assistance was provided. The severity of Cyclone Val was aptly described by a local resident who stated: "But this Cyclone was stronger than me. For the first time I felt defeated I had never felt that before. I felt it was personal between me and Cyclone. I got depressed afterward."
Aid was provided to the affected zones based on a categorization as Category A, B, C, D, E and F. The categories are defined by the degree of damage suffered. Assistance covered individuals, households, and the State and local governments. The assistance encouraged private, nonprofit organizations (NGOs) to meet and discuss expense-related emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure. Assistance provided "Hazard Mitigation Grants" to secure life and property from hazards.
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
provided considerable assistance to the affected population and helped with the reconstruction and recovery of infrastructure facilities. Samoans in the United states, Australia, and New Zealand helped finance the recovery by way of remittances to their relatives who suffered on the island.
Law suit
In 1991, American Samoa purchased a $45 million "all risk" insurance policy from the firm Affiliated FM Insurance. The firm would only pay up to $6.1 million for the damages, arguing that the insurance did not cover water damage, only that caused by the wind. Attorney William ShernoffWilliam Shernoff
William M. Shernoff is a prominent American trial lawyer based in Beverly Hills/Claremont, California, USA. He is one of the pioneers of a branch of law known as "insurance bad faith", in which he investigates the alleged bad faith and misconduct of insurance companies. This began in 1971 with his...
investigated and discovered that the insurance company had altered American Samoa's insurance policy to exclude damages caused by "wind-driven water", despite the fact that it still covered cyclones. The case was taken to court, and in 1995, the jury awarded the American Samoa Government $28.9 million. Soon after, the amount was doubled to $57.8 million to include punitive damages. The total damages awarded by the judgment was $86.7 million, which the judge stated to be "the largest insurance bad faith verdict in the state of California in 1995".
The revenues of American Samoa for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003, which had been showing a downward trend, registered a substantial increase attributed to the insurance settlement of claims made to cover the damages caused by Cyclone Val. This resulted in fiscal surpluses. The deficit of US $23.1 million at the start of 2001 changed to a surplus of US $43.2 million by end of 2003.