WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama on Wednesday promised a "swift and aggressive" government response to the tsunami that hit American Samoa and neighboring islands claiming at least 113 lives.
"I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response," Obama said in a statement.
The declaration of a major disaster, initially called for by American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono, allows the US government to stump up money for temporary housing, clean-up, repairs, unemployment aid and temporary loans.
Obama also pledged help for countries other than the US territory of American Samoa that were hit by the magnitude 8.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
"We also stand ready to help our friends in Samoa and the region," he said.
"Going forward, we will continue to provide the resources necessary to respond to this catastrophe, and we will keep those who have lost so much in our thoughts and prayers," Obama said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) earlier said it was dispatching two disaster recovery teams to affected areas, to assess the extend of the damage.
The agency, along with former president George W. Bush, was lambasted for its tardy response to Hurricane Katrina which inundated New Orleans in August 2005.
Obama said the US Coast Guard would also help deploy "resources to those areas in need of immediate assistance."
A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules left with one FEMA team from Barber?s Point, Hawaii late on Tuesday, local time, on route to American Samoa, where officials said, some parts of the island were still without power.
"The first federal team members are currently en route to American Samoa aboard a Coast Guard plane and will be providing on the ground assessments once they arrive on the island," FEMA administrator Craig Fugate said in a statement.
"FEMA, who has provisions pre-positioned in a distribution center in Hawaii, is also preparing to send supplies as needed to help meet the immediate needs of the survivors."
The airport was said to be operational, as well as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital, after patients were initially moved to higher ground.
According to eyewitnesses entire villages were wiped out and tourist resorts flattened by the waves measured up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) high.
The quake toppled buildings and sent thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami approached, many others were hit by the walls of water that swept people and cars out to sea and obliterated coastal settlements.
American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga were all affected.
The earthquake struck at 6:48 am (1748 GMT) on Tuesday at a depth of 18 kilometers (11 miles), 195 kilometers south of Apia, the capital of the independent state of Samoa.
