23 Feb 2004

More than 12 million US dollars allocated to help American Samoa after Cyclone Heta

7:32 am on 23 February 2004

Almost 12-and-a-half million US dollars has been handed out to people in American Samoa affected by Tropical Cylone Heta.

A spokesman for the Federal Emergency Mangement Agency, John Treanor, said that since the disaster relief centre opened a week after Heta hit in January, more than 6 thousand people have registered for federal assistance.

Just under 5 thousand applications have been approved.

FEMA assistance covers severe damage that makes homes unlivable and replaces and repairs essential items damaged by events such as cyclones.