Cyclone Gita has caused nearly $US7 million worth of damage to American Samoa's government buildings and other infrastructure.
Damage from Cyclone Gita in American Samoa. Photo: Twiiter/ Aumua Amata
The cost of the preliminary assessment of damage is being finalised this week and likely to be included in a request to declare American Samoa a major disaster zone.
The Governor Lolo Moliga urged the cabinet on Friday to be honest and fair in any preliminary damage assessment reports for the cyclone which struck just over two weeks ago.
Lolo told the cabinet members not to include damage that didn't occur and cautioned them not to heed a phrase he had overheard to "just bring everything to the federal government".
He pointed out that the US Government was also struggling with debts in the trillions of dollars.
He said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials did not understand the situation and it's up to the local government officials to make them understand.
610 people remain in 11 shelters in the territory, and local vendors are supplying meals paid for by the Red Cross.