President Trump Approves American Samoa Disaster Declaration

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The White House issued the following news release on April 17:

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the territory of American Samoa and ordered Federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 29, 2020, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to the territory and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the territory of American Samoa impacted by COVID-19.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Robert J. Fenton as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR [email protected].