Gov. Togiola Tulafono announced during last Friday’s press conference that a vessel was arriving on Saturday (Nov. 14), to bring in 27 individual generators, with one megawatt each to assist with power generation in the territory.

This was the project the American Samoa Power Authority had awarded to off-island firm Aggreko International Projects Ltd. ASPA has said that this is for a long-term temporary “turnkey” power project.

Togiola told reporters that it will probably take a week or two to set up the units “and then we will put back on the grid 27 megawatts in their operating capacity and hopefully return the power situation to a better normalcy.”

Togiola acknowledged FEMA “in working with us to restore the power situation as quickly and efficiently and as well as they have done, that allowed us ... minimal amount of discomfort and inconvenience in the past few weeks. I am very grateful for all that effort.”

He said these individuals have not had any rest in making sure there is working power for Tutuila.

ASPA continues to urge residents to conserve electricity and disconnect all valuable appliances and electronics when not in use to protect them from power surges. 

FRAUD HOTLINE ESTABLISHED

The Federal Emergency Management in conjunction with local government has established a hotline where residents can confidentially report possible cases of fraud of federal disaster assistance, which has reached more than $8 million from the Sept. 29th earthquake, tsunami and flooding.

While fraud is a rare occurrence during disaster recovery, FEMA says it does occur, and the federal agency has a responsibility to take action.

FEMA officials say people who intentionally try to defraud the government are taking money away from those who truly need assistance. “FEMA must ensure that taxpayer dollars go only to people who incurred legitimate losses. This may include prosecuting anyone who makes a fraudulent claim,” said FEMA officials yesterday.

FEMA says that most cases where possible fraud is detected are not deliberate attempts to defraud the federal government and recommends that applicants receiving grant money keep receipts to show how funds were used.

Anyone with information about individuals— maybe a contractor, or inspector, or disaster survivor, or someone posing as any of these— who may have defrauded the government in connection with the earthquake/tsunami disaster, should call the FEMA Fraud Hotline local number at (684) 633-3768. The call is completely confidential, FEMA announced in a statement yesterday.

(See advertisement for Fraud Hotline in Samoa News.)

The announcement comes amid rumors of local recipients allegedly using the money they received for other purposes such as taking trips off-island for family fa’alavelave and purchase of non-damaged items.

For individuals who feel they have made a mistake in reporting their damage or losses, FEMA encourages them to call the disaster assistance helpline at 684-633-0920, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time, Monday through Saturday. They can also visit FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Lee Auditorium.

According to FEMA, its Office of Inspector General routinely audits individuals, local governments and nonprofit organizations that receive FEMA disaster assistance funds.

The audits are independent assessments to determine whether recipients spent the funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Auditors look at expenditures on ineligible items or instances of duplicate payments from insurance companies or other sources.

FEMA WILL PAY DISASTER OVERTIME

None of the local ASG workforce that worked overtime related to disaster response, relief and recovery have received overtime payment yet. It is to be paid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Gov. Togiola Tulafono says overtime hours during disasters are submitted to FEMA, who then reviews the request before payment is sent to ASG to pay out to employees.

Togiola, responding to questions on his weekend radio program, says every ASG employee who was called to work within 24-hours from day one of the disaster has not been paid their overtime.

He said discussions are underway with FEMA for payment of some of ASG’s bill from the disaster— including overtime— and asked for patience from ASG employees.

Two weeks ago, during a press conference, FEMA federal coordinating officer Kenneth Tingman said FEMA will reimburse the overtime for ASG if “the work was done.”

Territorial Office of Fiscal Reform deputy manager Salu Tuigamala said all overtime hours are written on project worksheets, starting with debris removal. They will be paid out by ASG and reimbursed by FEMA.

All overtime hours are channeled to TOFR and departments have already been informed to prepare and submit their overtime expense reports as soon as possible.