The local Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to get the installation of an early warning system moving forward after funds for the project had been frozen due to problems with previous handling of federal grants.

Meanwhile, ASDHS has called on the public not to panic during an earthquake but to evacuate to higher ground in the event the quake is very strong, or when an alert is issued.

An island wide warning system has been talked about for many years and it appeared to be on its way to becoming a reality with FEMA funding about six years ago, when local disaster matters came under the jurisdiction of the Territorial Homeland Security Office (TOHS).

However, in January 2007 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) placed a freeze on all homeland security funds including FEMA grants following a USDHS Office of Inspector General audit report that revealed problems with how homeland security funds had been spent in previous fiscal years.

The OIG audit report revealed TOHS provided $250,000 to the National Weather Service to acquire an all-hazards early warning broadcast system to enhance the territory’s emergency communication capability in the event of a terrorist or natural disaster, but OIG said that under the grant guideline, “federal grant funds cannot be sub-granted to other federal government entities.”

(It should be noted ASDHS was only established by law this year after it had been in existence for over a year via executive order.)

ASDHS supporting documents showed that in FY2004 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) funds for $250,000 were paid to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in June 2004.

FEMA’s decision to disallow the total cost of the system was based on ASDHS’ lack of procurement policies and procedures and failure to safeguard federal funds, it says.

Additionally, the federal grant funds were paid in advance of receiving goods and services, which is not allowable by federal regulation.

Another FEMA report further states the All-Hazards Early Warning Broadcast System (EWBS) “has not been installed and is not operational” although the money was paid out to NOAA.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, ASDHS director Mike Sala said yesterday this was previously a disallowable cost but “is now an allowable cost after negotiation with FEMA and U.S Homeland Security Officials”, as long as NOAA provides the system.

“Hopefully this will happen before the end of the year,” he said.

Since the Sept. 29 earthquake and tsunami, there have been repeated calls for the government to install a siren alert system island-wide which was one of the recommendations the Fono made in a 2006 report to the administration.

There were also unconfirmed reports of federal funding to install such a system and Sala said his office is reviewing past records of homeland security funding to see if some money was allocated years ago.

Sala said one of his concerns now due to the frequent quakes following the major quake last month, is that people are panicking and jamming up traffic right after an earthquake.

“We ask our community not to panic but move to higher grounds if the earthquake was very strong, which is also considered your warning,” said Sala. “Government agencies and schools should also activate their evacuation plans, which also call for moving to higher grounds.”

He said the government is working on a plan to identify designated places or areas for the public to evacuate to, in the event of a tsunami warning, especially those areas along the shoreline.

For example, he said for the villages of Leloaloa and Atu’u, one site is the road going up the hill to the old Marist High School site and up the hill at St. Theresa’s School in Lepua.

In the Pago Pago area, there are access roads going to higher grounds or one can use the road to Fagasa heading uphill as another proper evacuation site. In the Utulei area, one site used by people recently is the road going up to the old cable car, on the hill behind the EOB.

“We’re working on this project right now in order to get the information out as soon as possible,” he said and noted that for residents further inland in Tualauta county, such as Mapusaga Fou and Pavaiai, there is no need for them to head up the road to Aoloau since they are already in a protected area.

One big complaint during the Sept. 29 tsunami was that residents of Mapusaga Fou, Malaeimi and Pavaiai’i as well as others were all jamming up the traffic on the road to Aoloau.