Tropical Cyclone Heta

Tropical Cyclone Heta

January 7, 2004 - AMERICAN SAMOA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Jan. 7) - American Samoa is in a state of emergency after Acting Governor Aitofele Sunia issued a "Declaration of Emergency" at 9 a.m. on Monday after Tropical Cyclone Heta moved away from the Territory heading towards Niue, leaving behind much damage to public and private properties.

By Sunday morning, Sunia activated the American Samoa Government's (ASG) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate emergency response activities staff by first responder personnel from various government agencies.

Heta passed American Samoa within 140 miles off Tutuila and never made landfall, with peak damaging winds between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. in the early Monday hours.

The declaration states that Heta was expected to peak at sustained wind speeds of 180 miles per hour at its core, with gusts of 195 miles per hour and would create 45 foot wave surges.

"High winds, high tidal action and heavy rainfall has caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure and public and private property throughout American Samoa," the declaration points out.

It further states that Heta has resulted in "requiring medical evacuation and the emergency evacuation of 140 individuals."

In declaring the "state of emergency throughout ... American Samoa to remain in effect until further notice," Sunia called "upon the government, non-government organizations, private sector and residents of American Samoa to coordinate and assist with restoration efforts."

Reprentatives of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were on route to Pago Pago to assist to recovery efforts.

Sunia said he would forward a request to U.S. President George W. Bush, to declare American Samoa a federal emergency site. By yesterday afternoon, the request was been finalized and a copy was not available at press time.

Governor Togiola Tulafono was expected back in the Territory from Apia either last night or this morning.

He left Thursday afternoon to take part in the 91st birthday celebration of Samoa's Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II that was scheduled for Monday this week.

However, reports out of Apia indicated that the celebrations were canceled due to the aftermath of Heta.

January 8, 2004

Samoa News: www.samoanews.com

January 13, 2004 - PRESIDENT BUSH ORDERS FEDERAL AID FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS IN AMERICAN SAMOA

For Immediate Release
OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY
January 13, 2004

Statement on Federal Assistance for American Samoa
Statement by the Press Secretary

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Territory of American Samoa and ordered Federal aid to supplement Territory and local recovery efforts in the area struck by high winds, high surf and heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Heta on January 2-6, 2004.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to the Territory of American Samoa and the Island of Tutuila on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under Public Assistance, at 75 percent Federal funding.

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. Costello as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional designations and forms of assistance may be made after the assessments are completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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January 20, 2004 - Tons of food enroute to Samoa. Gus Hanneman organizes typhoon relief effort initially supported by a check of $10,000 from "The Rock".
Gus Hanneman	The Rock