Jeff DePonte and the American Samoa Tsunami

  

Honolulu independent producer Jeff DePonte thought he was making a timely trip to American Samoa--to do a documentary about the effects of the closure of the tuna canning industry there. 

Well, there was that timing and then there was the timing of the tsunami.

 Shortly after Jeff arrived, the walls of water struck.  He kept out of harm's way and then went looking for trouble. He found both tragedy and thanksgiving. There was grief over the deaths and there was also stoic acceptance of damage--lots of people cleaning up and moving forward. Not seeing any other professional broadcast journalist on the scene at that time, Jeff made sure he captured as many images as possible.  CNN was glad to hear from him and televised his footage.

Jeff's back home now. He's been assuring his worried friends and colleagues he's fine and updating them on what he saw. He said Mike Reynolds and Sarah Bone of the National Park there beat the wave by 30 seconds, running across the street to high ground. Behind their Visitors Center is Pago Stream, the center of destruction in Pago Pago, which filled with cars.

On the west side, he says,  Mapu Luaao described another race with the wave, in a car. "Good thing my husband can drive fast!" she  said. They made it to the safety of a hill.

Here's where Jeff posted some of his video:

 http://www.vimeo.com/user1346247/videos

By the way, Jeff is still intent on making that documentary about America Samoa's loss of tuna canneries.

Comments

[Keahi Pelayo]

Good thing he was there and it is unfortunate that a tragedy had to happen.
Aloha,
Keahi

[Mike Nale]

I have worked with Jeff in the past, a true professional. I am glad he is ok.