Resilience Summit set to strengthen Am Samoa’s disaster resilience

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “For us in American Samoa, disaster resilience is not a matter of choice. It is a matter of survival,” declared Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu who is currently acting governor while both the Governor and Lt. Gov are off island. He made the comment during his special remarks at yesterday’s opening of Amerika Samoa’s 1st Annual Resilience Summit at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium.

“Our people have lived through the 2009 tsunami, many cyclones, flooding, mudslides, high surf — or King Tides, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fainu’ulelei, told the audience, which included U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX Recovery Division director, Robert Pesapane, who delivered the keynote address.

Fainu’ulelei, said that American Samoa is also “very concerned about the volcano related tremors in Manu’a.” He thanked federal and local partners and everyone lending their time and expertise to make the three-day summit a success.

For this year’s theme, “Bridging the Gap Between Government and Communities”, Fainu’ulelei said it’s “important because we are a small island society, and most of all, because of our culture.”

“We value every single member of our community. We believe that each and everyone of us, has an important role to play in disaster resilience,” he said, noting that the local government with the assistance from federal and local partners, and everyone in the community “must do his or her part to make sure that our islands can withstand the natural disasters that arrive on our shores, with such regularity.”

He declared that: “We islanders are naturally resilient. We wouldn’t still be here if we weren’t. But that doesn’t mean we take it for granted, quite the opposite. We are resilient because we are determined to learn lessons and adapt after each new disaster.”

And American Samoa also relies on each other and summits like the current one “to keep us current on best practices that we can disseminate throughout our entire community,” he said.

Fainu’ulelei said he is certain the three-days of the summit, “will be highly productive and will strengthen American Samoa’s disaster resilience.”

On behalf the governor, and his administration, Fainu’ulelei expressed profound gratitude to participants of the summit and best wishes for a successful one.

 In his keynote address, Pesapane said he appreciates the vision of the leaders of American Samoa to bring a broad audience together to learn, connect, plan and improve readiness for future disaster responses, identify opportunities to reduce the impact of disasters — during the summit.

He noted that American Samoa is no stranger to disaster impacts and the impact of climate change and weather patterns, just like other parts of the country and the world.

Pesapane acknowledged the statement by Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga printed in the official summit program and that he had also read it.

The governor said in message that American Samoa is not immune to the fast-paced effects of climate change in the Pacific and around the world.

“Data has shown that our islands are sinking and at a rapid rate. We must respond to address this serious matter with a sense of urgency,” the governor said. “Our actions today are our investments in securing cleaner water, air, environment and reducing carbon footprint for healthier generations in the future.”

He commended the organizers for selecting “Building Resilience in Community,” as the theme for the summit.

“It is a proactive approach to involve all stakeholders including the community, non-profit and faith-based organizations, private sector and special and functional needs community,” Lemanu said.

“Involving the community is key in the planning and it helps enhance awareness of everyone’s specific roles and responsibilities in our efforts to remain resilient and always prepared in the untimely events of disasters,” he noted.

The governor acknowledged the tremendous support of FEMA and other federal partners in “our preparations and when we are struck by a disaster. Your participation in this summit speaks volumes of your commitment to ensure that our Territory remains prepared, and we greatly appreciate it.”

The summit is hosted by The Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) whose director, Lisa Tuato’o publicly acknowledged and thanked Pesapane for approving the $7 million for the vaccination project in response to COVID-19. And also the most recent $2 million for LBJ Medical Center projects, she said, to a round of applauses from the audience.  She again thanked Pesapane “for always believing in us” and “being there to partner and support our operations.”

“We work together, we win together,” said Tuato’o during her remarks to open the summit, which continues today with the “Disaster Resilience Wave” Utulei at 7a.m.

Training sessions today will be provided by the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources; American Red Cross American Samoa — focus on Recovery Efforts, Process, and Voluntary Donations; and the National Weather Service — on weather advisories and public notifications.

Samoa News notes that before departing the territory on Monday, then acting governor, Talauega E. V. Ale, who is the Lieutenant Governor, appointed Fainuulelei as acting governor, until he returns to the territory.