New Savai‘i emergency operations centre breaks ground to strengthen island wide disaster response

Samoa has begun construction of the Savai‘i Sub-National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), marked by a groundbreaking ceremony. Designed to be a central coordination hub, the facility will strengthen how emergencies are coordinated on the island and will support preparedness, early actions and response for communities across Samoa’s largest island.

The centre will provide a dedicated space where national and local agencies can work together during emergencies. It is designed to support real-time information gathering, analysis and communication so that responders can make decisions based on accurate and timely updates. This includes coordinating warnings, mapping needs, allocating resources, and ensuring that information reaches communities and decision-makers without delay.

The facility will also include a storage unit and prepositioned humanitarian emergency response supplies (HERS) for Savai‘i. Having HERS on the island is intended to shorten response times by reducing reliance on transport from Upolu during the first hours and days of an emergency. This helps responders deliver support more quickly to families, villages and service providers when movements are restricted or when weather conditions disrupt travel.

The Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. La‘auli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, highlighted that the investment enhances the capacity of the government and communities to effectively manage the impacts of disasters and emergencies. The Prime Minister noted that Samoa’s recent experiences from cyclones to public health emergencies reinforce the importance of reliable systems on both Upolu and Savai‘i.

“For many years, our people practiced preparedness as part and parcel of Fa’a Samoa, strong leadership and resilient communities” 

- Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa

He added, “ Today’s groundbreaking is part of a much wider effort led by the Government of Samoa with our partners to contribute to community resilience. A key priority of this work is strengthening early warning and preparedness capabilities across the country. Our partnership with national agencies and development partners is helping us ensure that all Samoan at-risk communities are protected by early warning systems and are prepared to respond to the impacts of disasters and climate change.” 

The Acting Deputy Director General Science and Capability and Director of the Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division for the Pacific Community (SPC), Ms Rhonda Robinson, acknowledged the centre’s role in strengthening Samoa’s disaster management arrangements.

“This facility supports Samoa’s ongoing work to strengthen the systems that guide preparedness and response. Emergency Operations Centres bring people together, organise information, and create the environment needed for coordinated decision-making. This is a practical investment that will help responders on Savai‘i carry out their work more effectively” 

- Ms Rhonda Robinson

European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, said the project reflects the value of long-term partnerships focused on community resilience. “The EU is committed to supporting Samoa’s efforts to improve how emergencies are managed. By strengthening coordination and ensuring essential supplies are close to the communities that need them, this centre will help reduce delays and support more effective responses. We are pleased to work with the Government of Samoa and SPC on initiatives that have a direct benefit to people at the local level.”

The construction of the Savai’I NEOC  is funded through the European Union’s EDF11 and delivered through the Pacific Community’s Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Phase Two project. Support is being provided to the Disaster Management Office, the National Emergency Operations Centre and partners across government, civil society and the private sector to strengthen procedures, equipment, communications and overall preparedness. The Savai‘i centre, the storage facility and the pre‑positioned supplies contribute directly to these national objectives.

For Savai‘i communities, the groundbreaking marked the official start of a facility intended to improve how assistance reaches families during disasters. Community representatives, the Government of Samoa, the European Union, and SPC attended the event.