Update: Fed disaster declaration approved for Am Samoa

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As earlier reported on samoanews.com, U.S President Joe Biden has approved American Samoa’s federal request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration following high surf, high winds and flooding that impacted the territory in July this year, especially shoreline villages on both Tutuila and Manu’a as well as Aunu’u.

ASG documents reviewed by Samoa News over the weekend, show that Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga requested on Aug. 12, a Presidential Disaster Declaration, following a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) carried out jointly by ASG and the U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the last week of July for Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA).

The joint assessment covered impacted shoreline villages throughout the territory, and government infrastructure, which falls under the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority (ASTCA), American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), Department of Port Administration and Public Works Department.

Additionally, the PDA also identified disaster impacts on damaged crops and residential areas. 

Samoa News understands that a joint ASG/FEMA presentation for an update on the PDA to Gov. Lemanu is scheduled for sometime today. And ASG agencies, involved with the PDA, have been informed to update their individual assessment as well as estimate costs prior to the meeting. 

A cabinet director told Samoa News that the governor is seeking to prioritize the projects to be carried out.

There was a previous meeting with the governor, after the Presidential Declaration was issued — and cabinet directors involved with the PDA were instructed at the time by the governor to go back and conduct the damage assessment, especially in Manu’a.

The PDA documents reviewed by Samoa News — as of Saturday morning — show that DPW has the highest cost estimates for about 14 proposed projects totaling $56.75 million. The highest project cost — at $11.03 million  — is for Aua Shoreline Protection (from the Aua CCCAS church to Onesosopo); followed by Aunu’u Shoreline Protection at $10.89 million; Nua & Seetaga Shoreline Protection for $10.83 million; and Matafao Shoreline Protection (from the Catholic Church in Fagaalu to Gataivai House on sami side) at $9.16 million.

The documents also shows the ASTCA cost estimate totals $1.16 million for 13 proposed projects, including three major ones for Aunu’u — a new building structure; new tower & construction for the cell-site relocation; and new fiber and underground conduits.

Port Administration’s cost estimates come in at just over $1.61 million for 17 projects, with the highest at $500,000 for the Aunu’u Small Boat Harbor (Wharf Damages) followed by $300,000 the Security/Perimeter fence at Pago Pago International Airport.

ASPA’s estimated costs stands at $492,000 for six projects — which include $255,000 to relocate the damage diesel power plant on Aunu’u — while the Health Department put cost estimates at $10,000 — but no specific details were outlined in the PDA documents.

There’s been no official statement yet from the Governor’s Office on this declaration at press time. And it’s unclear at this point as to the total estimated cost of damages submitted by the Administration to FEMA, with its request for a presidential declaration.

Samoa News understands that the governor received an email from FEMA Region 9 announcing that American Samoa’s request for a Presidential disaster declaration was approved last week Thursday, Sept. 15.

According to the ASG summary documents reviewed by Samoa News, two federal disaster aid programs are now available to American Samoa under the disaster declaration:

•           Public Assistance — which provide assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities; and

•           Hazard Mitigation Grant — which provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

All areas in the territory are eligible for these two federal programs, while the Individual Assistant program — providing assistance to individuals and households is “Under Review”, according to the documents.

According to the Presidential declaration, released by the White House last Friday morning, federal funding is available to the territory and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the high surf, high winds, and flooding in July.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in all areas in the territory. (No information was available at press time on the cost-sharing, if its 75% federal and 25% ASG or 90% federal and 10% ASG.)

FEMA Administrator, Deanne Criswell has named Benigno B. Ruiz as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations for American Samoa.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, according to Biden’s declaration.

After being informed by FEMA of the Presidential declaration, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata issued a news release, saying that this is welcome news, and thanked Biden and all those in American Samoa who provide the federal government with the necessary documentation to support the declaration.

“The United States has supported our islands repeatedly in recent years, including Storm Gita, and COVID-related funding. I want to thank FEMA for these important services to ensure safety, and thank you to all those who will do necessary rebuilding work at the flooding sites,” she said.

FEMA also issued news release on Friday announcing Biden’s declaration of the disaster and that federal funding is being made available to American Samoa.

FEMA online public records — as of Saturday — did not yet provide the Preliminary Damage Assessment report, which usually includes the estimated costs of damage. The report is usually included with a governor’s request for the Presidential declaration.