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http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-7WKNS6?OpenDocument&rc=5&emid=TS-2009-000209-ASM

 

Recovery effort under way in American Samoa 

Source: Voice of America (VOA) 

Date: 06 Oct 2009 

By Mike O'Sullivan  

American Samoa, 06 October 2009 - Recovery efforts are underway in American Samoa, 
which was struck last week by a major earthquake and tsunami, along with the nearby 
nations of Samoa and Tonga. One-hundred-77 is confirmed dead in the three island 
groups. Life is returning to normal for many survivors, but they face a massive cleanup.  

Workers are clearing rubble in the hard-hit coastal neighbourhoods and power and 
telecommunications have been restored in most parts of American Samoa. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers has helped restore the water supply, although residents are being 
urged to boil their water. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have delivered meals, blankets 
and cots for those forced from their homes.  

U.S. Park Service employees are helping in the effort. Pua Tuaua is leading a crew of 
workers from the National Park of American Samoa.  

"There's a lot of work to be done," said Tuaua. "So the boys are here. We're all out here 
trying to work hard and trying to clean up this mess."  

Several crew members have been affected themselves. Three lost their homes. Tuaua lost 
two of his relatives to the tsunami and the huge waves damaged his home and destroyed 
his furniture.  

In the same beachside neighbourhood, a truck and tangled mass of corrugated steel are 
wedged against the house of Fai Faaita. He says that people farther from the coast 
escaped the serious damaged, but he and his neighbours took the brunt of the huge 
waves.  

"The majority of people that live here in the coastal area got hit badly. And, houses right 
now are unliveable," said Faaita. "So most of the people are either living with their families 
or living in families and so forth."  

He says the woman in the truck that was swept into his house was injured and was flown 
to hospital in Hawaii. Her daughter, who was with her, later died.  

More than 30 people died in American Samoa. The neighbouring nation, Samoa, was 
harder hit. More than 130 people died there, and nine others in Tonga.  

In American Samoa, life is returning to normal and most schools and businesses have 
reopened.  

Those affected by the disaster look to the government for help. Federal and local officials 
hosted a meeting of residents, Monday, explaining how to apply for emergency aid and 

 

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low-interest loans. Officials say they will soon begin the process of long-term recovery, as 
American Samoans begin to heal their wounds.