Amazing accomplishments – Rebuilding in Satalo after the Tsunami

My cousins Loudeen and Tony spent 2 weeks in Samoa, taking time from their jobs and lives in New Zealand and Australia, respectively, to help my family rebuild. Tony’s friend, Steve even came across and the two men took on the daunting task of fixing the main house on our property. There are a few pictures, and I really believe that our home was miraculously spared.  What I’ve written is in blue, Tony’s is in black.

BEFORE:  

 AFTER:

 

From Tony, here is an accounting of what he found:

DESTROYED

Verandah completely-just twisted post and reinforcing remaining-Vaetala errected temporary tarps overe the area to prevent rain from going directly into the front of the house and provide temp outside shelter.

No time to replace unfortunately-job for later

Vitalas ghouse at the beck was washed away completely – nothing but some framing anchored to the concrete base.

Outside toilet/ shower gone

Outside walls of inside toilet block gone along with tapware etc

Water pipe torn away and water running uncontrolled at rear of external toilet block.

Matresses/pillows water logged

DAMAGED
Inside toilet area/shower walls wiped out and just toilet pan left thankfully so we had a base to work from.

Side wall of house beside toilet shifted outwards and posts rotten / termites.

Aunties bed missing slats

All grave sites scoured out and sand/soil eroded

Uncle Filos gravetop (concrete) missing.

White painted stones/largestones marking graves widely spread at least 50m away

Washing area water supply gone.

This house survived well, except for the front porch, which was new. Windows and doors are gone.

SAFETY

Large quantities of glass from broken glass louvres spread throughout the land area -potential for ongoing injuries

Several cleanups organised and ongoing pickups needed.

Large quantities of damaged tin/runsty tin everywhere-potential for ongoing injuries.

Several cleanups for this and more cleanups needed.

Rubbish-Large quantities of rubbish from emergency bottled water and household rubbish/tsunami debris accumulating.

Sewer=No issues. Appeared intact and able to process waste immediately on connecting

Laundry-large quantities piled up due to no washing facilities.

Jagged reinforcing steel present

This is the back of the main house. There was a bathroom/shower structure where the tent is.

WHAT WE COULD DO/DID.With the tremendous help of family and village workers who volunteered or were paid by us.

Put up new walls for inside toilet including partition between both.
Installed new plumbing for shower/toilet/toilet sink
Install new shower
Installed new cistern and vent.
Water run to house and toilets etc
Put in sink/bench beside house
Install sink waste
New insect screens sea side of house
New lino in both rooms
Replace posts and straighten/replace wall of house
cut off reinforcing steel
Replace roof over toilet
Install new toilet roll hold-very important
Install plumbing for waste beneath sink/bench
Install handbasin in toilet/connect water=couldnt fit waste due to time constraint
Put new light in toilet
New curtain wire purchased
Patch hole/broken concrete in verandah – 1.5m x 1m
Cut insert new washing area tap in concrete base
Obtain sand fill in graves area
Collect rocks / stones and return to graves/remark graves
Lay out new grave in cement for Uncle Filo
Reline damaged wall with hardboard
Fit new external side door including lock=no time to screw on plywood to door to reinforce door
New Fale Umu set up
New tarped area over former family fale site for kids play area
New soak pits/drains for kitchen waste
New soak pits/drains for washing area
Lights reinstalled and working-except for one mentioned earlier.
Reline outside of wall bathroom

JOBS NOT DONE:
Waste for toilet sink to go outside
Light switch dodgy
Verandah to be rebuilt traditionally
Hotels to be rebuild
FUTURE
Resite Vaetala’s fale inland.
Rebuild toilet/shower/sink outside with water/power
Plumb in water/toilet outside
Shade over outside bench

ENDNOTE:
In discussions with Lood we are thinking of going traditional re fale rebuild with modern consideration regarding materials used,heights etc.Lood will discuss this at a later date when appropriate.

I and Steve have also given money directly to people of the village.We also brought 10lbs of roofing nails and 10lbs of framing nails for others to use to rebuild. People in the village can use the handtools to rebuild. I even gave instruction on the use of some powertools and had them wear safety gear 

It was a rewarding but very flat out experience and my friend steve enjoyed it even more. I got sunburn and badly infected blisters through rushing and not preparing-A LESSON TO YOU ALL.

BUT REWARDING , SAD, UNFORGETTABLE AND GLAD I TOOK THE RISK-NEVER KNOW WHAT AND HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY SUPPORT.  Thank you so much, Tony!