4 Nov 2010

NZ company wins US FEMA contract

11:32 am on 4 November 2010

The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded New Zealand's Fletcher Construction company the construction contract for phase two of the permanent housing programme.

This involves the construction of 33 homes destroyed in last year's earthquake and tsunami.

FEMA didn't say how much the contract is worth, but said that Fletcher Construction has enjoyed an established presence in American Samoa for nearly 30 years and has a previous history of working with FEMA.

Construction is expected to begin in late November and the homes should be completed in 10 months.

The permanent housing program which was initially planned to include as many as 150 homes, currently stands at 41 homes.

Phase one required the construction of 8 houses and preparation of 10 additional housing sites, and those homes are now occupied.