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FEMADR-4537-ASMajor disasterDeclared April 17, 2020

DR-4537-AS: American Samoa Covid-19 Pandemic

FEMA made a major disaster declaration for American Samoa (DR-4537-AS) on April 17, 2020 for the incident of January 20, 2020 to May 11, 2023; it covers 5 designated areas. FEMA had approved $53,542 for 12 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $21.4 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).

The declaration

Declaration
DR-4537-AS (also written FEMA-4537-DR)
Type
Major disaster declaration
State
American Samoa
Incident
Biological: Covid-19 Pandemic
Incident period
January 20, 2020 to May 11, 2023
Declared
April 17, 2020
Programs declared
Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
FEMA region
9
Place in the year
the only major disaster declaration for American Samoa in 2020
Status
open (not yet closed out by FEMA)
Registration deadline (individual help)
September 30, 2025

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.

Which areas are covered, and for what?

Designated areaIndividuals and HouseholdsPublic AssistanceHazard Mitigation
Eastern (District)YesYesYes
Manu'a (District)YesYesYes
Rose Island (Island) (County-equivalent)YesYesYes
Swains Island (Island) (County-equivalent)YesYesYes
Western (District)YesYesYes

An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.

How much has FEMA approved?

12households approved for help (IHP)

$53,542Individuals and Households Program approved

$53,542of it for other needs

$21.4 millionPublic Assistance obligated

$518,745Hazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated

Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of May 17, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.

FEMA's page for this declaration

FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/4537. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on September 30, 2025.