American Samoa

[James48843]

Damage at American Samoa from Tsunami-

We have quite a few Federal Employees there- prayers to all.

[James48843]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ilTZgdbf9iT2YR2_40JfgBsOi5Dw

US scrambles response to Pacific tsunami
(AFP) – 4 hours ago

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has declared a "major disaster" in American Samoa after a tsunami killed at least 22 people in the outlying US territory spurring the deployment of federal emergency teams.

As the death toll in American Samoa and neighboring independent Samoa raced past 50 and was expected to rise further, the White House said federal aid would be made available to combat the devastation.

Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the relief agency was sending an incident management assistance team and a planning and response team "to provide support and on the ground assessment" in conjunction with the US Coast Guard.

The deadly tsunami, triggered by a massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake, wiped out villages when it hit remote island groups in the Pacific Ocean.
"It was an earthquake, which caused a tidal wave 15 feet (4.5 meters) in height," said Eni Faleomavaega, American Samoa's delegate to the US Congress.
"Some of the areas there are only a few feet above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation," Faleomavaega told AFP by telephone.

He said he had been in touch with local officials at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as FEMA, assessing the area's disaster relief needs.

"It caused severe damage to property, there are cars floating everywhere," Faleomavaega said, confirming that early reports of thousands left homeless and some 20 dead were "about right."

"We're hoping to take food and supplies and things, and they're making the necessary arrangements also to see what needs there are in Samoa, the independent state of Samoa," he said.

"This is a really sad time for the Samoan people," he said. "For those who are dead, we can only express our sympathies."

The US National Park Service, which has operations and staff in American Samoa, said its headquarters in Pago Pago, the capital of the main island of Tutuila, appeared to have been wiped out.

"Park staff, when they are able to make cell phone calls, are calling in to our offices," said spokeswoman Holly Bundock, relaying information from national park superintendent in Pago Pago Mike Reynolds.

"They said five tsunami waves have hit the park visitor center in Pago Pago. It would appear park offices and the visitor center there have been destroyed.

"Our greatest concern is for our staff. It would seem all are okay. One of the waves was about 30 feet high," she added.