Disaster declaration issued for American Samoa

WASHINGTON – The White House has declared a major disaster in American Samoa following a deadly tsunami.Early reports say towering waves spawned by an earthquake have flattened villages and killed several people in American Samoa. The U.S. territory in the South Pacific, part of a chain of islands, is home to 65,000 people.The disaster declaration Tuesday night by President Barack Obama provides federal aid to supplement local recovery efforts.Federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.