President Barack Obama made a major disaster declaration for the Territory of American Samoa late yesterday, triggering the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities respond to the Earthquake, Tsunami and Flooding that has occurred.

FEMA is coordinating relief efforts, and the National Park Service and the Hawaii Air National Guard also have emergency responders en route to the Territory.

A massive clean up is underway in the territory following the earthquake and tsunami that has so far claimed the lives of 30 people with more casualties expected as rescue workers head to outer villages.

The quake, with a magnitude between 8.0 and 8.3, struck just after dawn, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009.  The epicenter was about 20 miles below the ocean floor and 120 miles from American Samoa.

Some of the most devastated sites are found in the villages of Pago Pago and Leone, with crumbled buildings, cars on the road flipped over and debris everywhere.

Buildings and homes that were located on the shoreline of Pago Pago Harbor are now gone. The Pago Plaza is littered with trees, wrecked cars, mud and trash. A common scene in the Bay Area is a boat sitting on dry land pushed onto the shore by the tsunami.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday long lines were in front of Morris Scanlan gas station in Utulei after two other gas stations in Pago Pago were destroyed.

At the Satala Cemetery, nearby residents worked to re-bury two caskets that surfaced during the tsunami.

In Leone, survivors picked through the debris as ASPA, DPS, Public Works and Fire Department personnel worked to clear the road along the sami. A section of the bridge between Leone and Auma was washed out and no vehicle traffic was able to pass, while people on foot moved back and forth over a makeshift patch. 

By early afternoon Public Works had filled the break with rocks and soil and by late afternoon traffic was able to move east and west again.

DISASTER DECLARATION

President Obama’s disaster declaration makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the Territory of American Samoa.

This assistance will provide immediate resources to address response, including urgent life sustaining and public health and safety measures. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to the Territory of American Samoa and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Territory of American Samoa.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Kenneth R. Tingman as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said that damage surveys have been requested and will be conducted as soon as the situation permits.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the Territory can begin applying for assistance starting today by registering online at:

 http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov

<http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

UPDATES

Despite the tsunami warning being canceled earlier in the day yesterday, people were in panic mode after reports came out of Samoa about another tsunami warning being issued. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii disputes the claims.

Red Cross officials in Tula said villagers were heading back to the mountain but meteorologist in charge of the local NOAA Weather Service office Akapo Akapo said around 6:30 p.m. that no new warning had been issued.

“We have not issued another tsunami warning for American Samoa,” he said on KSBS-FM and dismissed CNN reports that another wave is expected soon for the territory.

Meanwhile, all public and private schools are closed today.

Both Cong. Faleomavaega and Gov. Togiola Tulafono are reported to be enroute to the territory on a military aircraft being provided by the Hawaii Air National Guard which will carry personnel support and emergency supplies to the areas devastated by the tsunami waves. The flight was scheduled to depart Honolulu at 10 p.m. last night and arrive at Pago Pago International Airport at 6:30 a.m. today.

The airport was closed to commercial flights after the disaster. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor in Los Angeles said the airport’s runways were closed because of widespread debris, but was to be cleared Tuesday afternoon for emergency use.

Radio announcements were broadcast starting around noon Tuesday calling for Public Works, Department of Public Safety and Army Reserve personnel to report to the airport to remove debris.

“Efforts are also underway to get other military flights into the Territory. Planes will be loaded with relief supplies for purposes of providing our people with food, water, and shelter. Federal and military personnel will assist with search and rescue efforts and will help rebuild roads that have been flooded,” Faleomavaega said.

MESSAGES OF SUPPORT

In a statement released late yesterday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has offered her condolences to the people of American Samoa. “The thoughts of the entire Congress are with the people of American Samoa as they grapple with the terrible loss of life as a result of today’s tsunami. As the island works to rebuild, all levels of the government, including Congress, will move quickly to address the needs of American Samoa and the Americans who live there.”

From Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of American Samoa and all those in the region who have been affected by these natural disasters.”

From Mayor Mufi Hannemann of Honolulu, “My thoughts are with friends and family in Samoa. I know many of us have relatives and good friends in the affected areas, and we pray that they are safe and secure despite what must have been a very frightening time.”

Hawaiian Airlines announced it intended to operate its next flight from Honolulu to American Samoa on Thursday evening as scheduled, pending confirmation of conditions at Pago Pago International Airport.

Contributing to this story is Associated Press.