The aftershock of waves that crushed lives and destroyed homes in Samoa Tuesday is hitting close to home, all the way back in Centralia.

Centralia College student Fidow Leiato, 33, is more or less cut off from her family in Western Samoa, a string of islands hit by an earthquake and tsunami earlier this week. As the death toll rises, Leiato said Wednesday, it’s clear that most federal funding from the United States will go to the neighboring American Samoa before it trickles down to her family in the rural areas of the independent state.

    “It could be days, weeks before we get any more information from Western Samoa,” said Leiato, who also goes by the name Lesina Reyes. “But the tsunami affects every Samoan. The island is so small that everyone knows one another if they’re not already related.”

    What Leiato does know is that her aunt and at least two of her younger cousins are dead, and another four are missing. She spoke briefly with another aunt in Samoa, who gave her a horrific account of the carnage.

    Swells came in and smashed houses on the beach, sending cars through walls. Many adults were able to hold on and dodge debris, but children were swallowed by the waves and helpless parents were forced to watch their kids being pulled into the sea.

    Many people are trying to help, but were too poor to fend for themselves even before the waves hit, Leiato said. Some are sifting through wreckage, some are drinking, and some wander aimlessly today, she said.

    A tsunami is not a disaster that’s normal for the area, nor was it expected, Leiato said. Since she can’t travel back home, she’s trying to help in Lewis County by spreading the word about an American Red Cross fund set up to begin the healing process.

    Financial support sent to the Red Cross will benefit all the islands of Western and American Samoa, according to a Red Cross press release. Donations can be made directly by calling 1-800-733-2767 or by visiting redcross.org.

    The Red Cross also has a warehouse full of supplies on American Samoa, a United States territory made up of seven islands, according to a press release.

    Leiato was born in American Samoa and adopted at birth. She moved to Lewis County in 1992, and some of her family — who mostly live in Western Samoa — stayed behind.

    Now, she said, she just wants to know that the rest of them are safe and getting as much care as possible.

    “Some of my family have been confirmed dead, and I’m worried the rest of my family won’t get help fast,” she said. “People are missing on the outskirts of the islands. I don’t want people to forget.”

How to Help

These aid organizations are accepting donations for their programs in Samoa and Sumatra:

The Red Cross: 206-323-2345 or www.redcross.org

World Vision: 888-562-4453, www.worldvision.org

Mercy Corps: 888-256-1900, www.mercycorps.org/asiapacificdisaster

Registry: The Red Cross also encourages those who have been able to contact relatives in American Samoa to register their status in the Safe and Well program at https://disastersafe.redcross.org/ The program will provide other loved ones information on their well-being.

    Andy Campbell: (360) 807-8208