Press Release - Congresswoman Laura Richardson

For Immediate Release
October 16, 2009

Contact: Jeff Billington
(202) 225-7924

90,000 Pounds of Emergency Aid Items Donated by Residents of Carson, Compton and Long Beach Fly to Samoa

WASHINGTON — An estimated 90,000 pounds of items donated by residents from Carson, Compton and Long Beach will depart at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17 from Long Beach Airport for Apia, Western Samoa via an Arrow Air Cargo DC-10. Media outlets are encouraged to be at the site no later than 5:45 a.m. to ensure access to officials and the plane before it is closed for the flight.

“On September 29, an 8.0 earthquake hit American Samoa and Samoa, subsequently resulting in to a 20-foot tsunami that resulted in major loss of life and property,” Congresswoman Richardson said. “Immediately, my constituents, including at 28,000 the largest Samoan population in the continental United States, began collecting and donating more than 200,000 pounds of food, water, clothes and other important recovery supplies. Tomorrow morning, this nation, Congressman Faleomavaega and I are keeping a promise to those affected and their friends and families.”

Congresswoman Richardson and Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (American Samoa) were instrumental in securing the DC-10 from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Both Members of Congress will be on hand for the departure, with Congressman Faleomavaega traveling with the donations to Samoa. Additional donated supplies are currently en route to Samoa by ship, and are expected to arrive in several days.

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