Officials say little damage was caused by the storm even though the eye of the cyclone hovered over American Samoa for about an hour.
Officials started alerting residents of Cyclone Wilma days before it hit.
It appears the message was heard with no reports of injuries or major damage.
Most of the damage from tropical cyclone wilma affected the eastern side of American Samoa.
"The cyclone came northeast so mostly on the eastern side of the island that was got hit strong," says Kaisia Felise, Homeland Security spokesperson.
"At approximately 9:30 this morning the eye sat right above American Samoa," says Felise.
The National Weather Service says winds reached up to 60 miles per hour with higher gusts.
There are reports of mudslides and power outages, but overall, the damage from the storm were minor, unlike what happened in September 2009, when an earthquake generated a powerful tsunami ... killing several hundred people.
The American Samoa Government was criticized for not having a warning siren system.
This time, officials made sure to get the word out early about Wilma.
"We have been telling people to prepare for quite awhile we started from thursday as a matter of fact," says Mase Akapo, Meterologist in charge.
They utilized all forms of communication like radio and television.
"Most of the people have boarded up their homes and houses," says Felise.
Homeland Security officials were ready in case evacuations were ordered.
"When we got there people were still in their homes the shore I mean the waves were a little bit high and it really came ashore and it almost got to the houses," says Felise.
As a precaution, officials opened 10 shelters.
"Few villages on the east side and few villages on the west that were badly damaged," says Felise.
Meterologist Mase Akapo expects American Samoa to get more effects of the storm in the coming days.
"We are anticipating winds from the northwest and those are usually typical strong gusty winds, I'm sure the clean-up will begin as soon as the west winds get through says Akapo.
Forecasters say Wilma could weaken significantly as it approaches New Zealand.
