With initial estimated damage at more than $5 million following the heavy rains, flooding and mudslides, which began July 29 and ended Aug. 3 this year, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has petitioned the White House for a Presidential Disaster Declaration that a major disaster or emergency exists in American Samoa.

Lolo’s request was outlined in an Aug. 25 letter to President Barack Obama via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). ASG is now awaiting response from the White House.

The governor’s request, if accepted, would pave the way for federal assistance to be received by the territory in accordance with federal law.  Major damage from the disaster occurred primarily in the Bay Area, especially in Gataivai.

In his letter the governor said the flooding, associated runoff and resulting landslides have produced serious and extensive damage to both public and private property, and directly caused injuries and one death.  It has also left many residents homeless, requiring evacuation to temporary shelters.

As a consequence, the territory has sustained significant damage to public property and facilities — including landslides and rockfall adjacent to public roads and facilities, residential homes, churches, businesses, agricultural farmlands, stream-beds and drainage systems, the governor said.

However, ASG has yet to assess long term damage to surface water reservoir systems, he noted, pointing out that damage throughout the territory due to the disaster has been such an extent that immediate clean-up and temporary repairs are necessary and underway to minimize health, social and economic impact.

In response to the situation, Lolo said he has taken appropriate action under Territorial law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on July 29 in accordance with federal law. He has also declared a state of emergency exists through the territory and requested immediate federal assistant to ensure quality control oversight on ongoing preliminary damage assessments.

“Initial assessment reviews by local agencies reflect public damage estimates in excess of $5 million, not including mitigation costs,” he declared. “I have determined that this incident is of  such severity and magnitude that effective response and recovery is beyond the capabilities of the territorial government and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary.”

Lolo is specifically requesting from President Obama, federal Public Assistance; Individual Assistance, including Disaster Housing; Individual Family Grant; Disaster Unemployment Assistance; Crisis Counseling; Hazard Mitigation; and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

He is also requesting direct federal assistance for “work and services to save lives and protect property” in the areas of:

•            debris removal and clean-up

•            slope stabilization especially in critically affected landslide and rock fall areas

•            stream-bed restoration

•            non-federal aid road and stream crossings

•            temporary shelter and services for displaced families

•            repair of damage public property.

In accordance with federal law, Lolo said American Samoa will provide without cost to the federal government all lands, easements and rights-of-ways necessary to accomplish approved work.

Further, ASG will hold the federal government free from damages due to the requested work and shall indemnify the U.S. against any claims arising from such work. And ASG will provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-federal share of the cost of such work.

Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has been designated as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) on policy matters relating to disaster relief.

According to the governor, he has reactivated the American Samoa Disaster Recovery Office (ASDRO), under the  direction of Alfonso Pete Galeai, as the State Coordinating Officer to manage federal and local assistants for this disaster. (Galeai is also executive director of the Territorial Office of Fiscal Reform.)

“Mr. Galeai will be the primary contact for disaster assessment and coordination of federal and local assistance in this matter and may provide further information or justification on my behalf,” Lolo concluded.