Federal and state disaster relief officials left this afternoon on a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Pago Pago to help the people of American Samoa cope with the fallout of a deadly tsunami.

The relief flight is carrying 40,000 pounds of water, food, clothing and other materials purchased by Hawaiian Airlines and Bank of Hawaii and donated by local retailers, according to the airlines.

Four C-17 transport planes with food, water, blankets, cots and tarps are also en route to American Samoa, with the first expected to arrive on Thursday, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mike McCoy, the FEMA logistics section chief, said the mission when officials arrive is to coordinate the relief effort with the American Samoa government.

"Life saving and life sustaining," said McCoy, who is based in Sacramento, Calif.

FEMA expects to set up a command post outside of the airport and then coordinate the distribution of supplies and equipment.

The Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team has two people already on the ground to assess the damage and several more personnel were on the relief flight and others will arrive in the next day.

Toby Clairmont, the team's commander, said the team will first assess the ability of hospitals to care for the injured and then look at whether there is adequate water, food and sanitation. The team will also determine whether some of the injured need to be transferred to Hawaii for care.

"We're looking at what we can do in the next 72 hours to make a difference in people's lives," Clairmont said.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel were also on the relief flight and will assess whether there is pollution, hazardous materials or damage to the harbor.