FEMA denies \Individual Assistance\ funds for those affected by summer flooding
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied American Samoa’s appeal for Individual Assistance to be included in the major disaster declaration for the territory after severe storms, flooding and landslides occurred here between July 29 and Aug. 3 this year.
When President Obama declared early last month that an emergency exists in American Samoa following the disaster, the territory was only granted Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation funding, while FEMA denied Individual Assistance funds.
FEMA told Samoa News last month that its denial was because the impact to individuals and households during the severe storms was “not of the severity or magnitude” to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance funding, which is to help individuals and households that have suffered losses and have outstanding needs as the result of a major disaster.
American Samoa then carried out a reassessment of damage done to homes and properties that were affected by the storm. The territory had until Oct. 10 this year to appeal the decision.
In a letter dated yesterday to Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative for emergencies, Elizabeth A. Zimmerman, FEMA’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Response and Recovery said the “appeal for Individual Assistance is denied."
She explained that after a thorough review of all information contained in the initial request and in the appeal, “we reaffirm our original findings that the impact to individuals and households from this event is not of severity and magnitude as to be beyond the combined capabilities of the territory, local governments, and community organizations.”
According to FEMA, the Public Assistance program helps fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of public facilities that are damaged or destroyed by a disaster. (It is not to be confused with public welfare programs.)
During a recent cabinet meeting, local Homeland Security Department deputy director Jacinta Brown explained that part of the reassessment of properties and homes damaged was to raise awareness of the “uniqueness of our local community” compared to communities in other states and territories.
She also said during the meeting that calls are still being received by ASDHS from families whose homes were damaged by the disaster, but who were not covered in the initial Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA).