Gov concerned families take the FEMA cash, not the new home Tuesday November 24, 2009
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com

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Gov. Togiola Tulafono says federal assistance in the form of cash to replace homes damaged by the Sept. 29 disaster is capped at $30,000, but the federal government can rebuild an entire home paying for all expenses no matter the total cost.

Speaking on his weekend radio program, the Governor said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) discussions are ongoing with families, whose homes were destroyed by the tsunami, regarding permanent homes.

Togiola says what has started to worry him is that it’s easy for affected families to accept the cash capped at $30,000 made available by FEMA through their financial assistance.

However, if the family does accept the cash— that is the only amount allowable— FEMA will not build the family a new home, said Togiola.

The Governor explained that if FEMA does build a new home for the family, FEMA will do everything until the home is completed before it’s turned over to the family and it won’t matter if the total cost comes to $60,000 or more.

Togiola reminded affected families that FEMA assistance is not an insurance, where the pay out is the value of the home, but instead FEMA’s financial assistance is to help improve living conditions following a disaster, meaning a home will not be the same type or style before the disaster.

The Governor said he has been informed by FEMA about some heated arguments with families, who stated their original house was a two-story and therefore FEMA should rebuild a two-story structure.

“This is not the case,” said Togiola, adding that if it was a two-story house and only one person lived there before the disaster, FEMA will plan and build only for a one-person home.

If there are more than two couples and children, FEMA will build the home to accommodate those couples and their children, said the Governor, who also urged affected residents not to get into such arguments with FEMA, who is providing financial assistance for those affected by the tsunami.

FEMA officials had previously stated that the plan for the new homes is not finished yet and it could be for two or three bedroom houses.

Togiola said on his radio program that the houses being planned by FEMA are similar to those designed and built by the Development Bank of American Samoa and the houses allow families to make extensions to the structure.

As for the FEMA’s new durable tents, the Governor said distribution, which started two weeks ago, is going very well, starting from the village of Amanave and moving on to other villages.

He said the tents are a great help to families, adding that maybe in tend FEMA might decide to leave the tents for affected families and the tents can be used for additional housing by a family.
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Comments to this story (32)
Anonymous  wrote:
30 Nov 2009 03:36 AM
Forget da FEMA with their small 30g's and 60g's, Fesili le alii Kovana and Lutena Kovana (FAI MEA SILI) ava'e a la ta'i 50 MILLION DOLLARS Olo'o natia I totonu o latou Fale e fesoasoani I tagata o si o tatou motu pele o Am. Samoa. FAI MEA SILISILI pei ona pisa ai le to'atele o outou na palota ile Kovana and Lutena Kovana. Ua fa'aali mai mea ua silisili ona mataga ona ole le fa'amaoni o ta'ita'i osi o tatou motu.. Ia Manuia Fuafuaga ole Aso, SOIFIA..
TB  wrote:
27 Nov 2009 01:40 PM
I totally agree with the governor,ppl stop being so greedy and take what you need to survive. My family didn't get any hand out from FEMA, I sent money home to rebuilt my mothers home, Toolshop and Sepps are getting a good deal of business from me. So get off those backside and help instead of making painful whingeing sounds.
SURF808  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 01:04 PM

Samoans know about customs and traditions, human nature and the all mighty dollar. They understand all these perhaps better than anyone else does. They know that when it comes to $$$$$, customs and traditions are thrown under the bus. They know that people are weak, always looking for handouts, greedy, conniving, lazy, dishonest and they just try to make the best of it; to work around it. Start worrying my people, ua pu fafa le kaga a Uncle Sam i legei vaikaimi. If I were you, I'd  appreciate what has been given to you freely. Uncle is getting  fed up with your complaints. Not once did I read of any poster in here offering to build the neighbor's house first??? It's always ME ME ME... Fai mai fo'i ua 99% o Samoa ua Kelisiago ma kalikogu i le Akua???!!! What a laugh!!!
Hopeful in NC CA  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 10:53 AM
Its really simple CASH has CAP. Rebuilding your home does not!
Only In Samoa  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 10:28 AM
As always, trying to bite the hands that feed you. That is EXACTLY why American Samoa is like a third world country. Quick to blame others when you need to be accountable for your own actions. Yes, our Governor isn't perfect.. please tell me what body of Government is? Obama? Bush? Schwarzanegger? The people of American Samoa voted for him.. so that should tell you something? Don't complain about what you don't have.. make do with what you do have. If it wasn't a US Territory? Who would you be complaining to? Corrupt government officials are everywhere and rampant and not just in American Samoa.. it just stands out even more because it's a small territory. So what if you had a two story house before? What are you living in now? A tent? I'm sure there will be a lot of brand new trucks flossin the broken streets of American Samoa while they live in a one room home.
,ndlNds  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 09:30 AM
thats mah boii right there...ooorah do tha right thing..///...asi muamua ifo le kakou nuu...
sauali'i  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 09:18 AM
Ua ova le fiatagata o tagata ma a latou fa'amatalaga e uiga i lenei faigamalo. Oe la lena e fia sofia, a uma loa lenei faigamalo pei ona e ta'ua toe 3 tausaga. Sau la oe e fai ma kovana pe e te mafaia. A tele loa le faafitauli o tagata i le FEMA, aua le toe avea iai ni tupe po'o ni siaki. Ana o a'u o le FEMA, aua ne'i toe omai pe a toe tupu se isi tsunami.
The Maverick  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 09:07 AM
WE ALL SHOULD BE grateful to the federal government that the hard earned U.S.tax payers monies is available to all. If I should make a choice of taking $30K in cash or a $60K home build by FEMA. I would take the latter. Question is how do you know whether one person lives in a two story house or eight ? Does it have to be choices of cash or a new strucuture ? I should think that maybe counselors and financial advisors should be made available in helping these folks make their decicions. 30K is tempting and can be easily spended in a day or two, especialy when faalavelaves hit bottom. Lets be wise and build a nice home, in which you and your family can all be proud of, and as well as creating jobs for the economy. The Governor's plan was to discourage taking cash(only 30K) but instead creating jobs, building nice homes at ($60K that's a darn beautiful home)
fia ola uma tatou  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 08:50 AM
"beggars can't be choosers"...typical samoan to only see $ signs rather being practical and logical of the given situation. New orleans are still waiting on fema to help rebuild and yet a little pebble in the pacific is filled with greedy people. Be rational of your decision. Manuia le aso faafetai.
angel  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 08:42 AM
Greedy, do you want a free new house or a tent? Be quite and take what's coming your way. FEMA, one more complaine than it's time to close your book.
why so complicated  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 07:53 AM
Listen, just give the people the CASH to rebuild there homes. If they don't comply or misuse the funds then throw them in jail. simple as that. Why do you always make things so difficult and complicated for your own people. geesh.
Anonymous  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 07:43 AM
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD SIT DOWN TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THINK THIS OPEN MINDED. AMERICAN SAMOA SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE STILL A PART OF THE UNITED STATES AND THAT WE EVEN HAVE A CHOICE OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE RESULTS OF THE TSUNAMI DISASTER. AMERICAN SAMOA SHOULD BE THANKFUL WITH ANY HELP THAT IS OFFERED NO MATTER WHAT FORM IT COMES IN ESPECIALLY DO YOU THINK THE PHILLIPINES, WESTERN SAMOA, TONGA AND INDONESIA ARE GETTING THE SAME PRIVILEGES HANDED ON A PLATTER LIKE US??? EVEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ANY KIND OF DISASTER IF YOU OWN A HOME AND YOU DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE WHICH YOU HAD TO PAY FOR YOU DON'T EVEN GET A PENNY OF ASSISTANCE YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR OWN WAY OF REBUILDING OR GOING BACK TO RENTING AND START ALL OVER. THE PEOPLE OF AMERICAN SAMOA IS BECOMING BIG CRY BABYS...TOO MUCH. THINK OF THE SAMOANS WHO LIVE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE SENDING MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES EVERYDAY THEY HAVE TO PAY MORGAGES/RENT, THEY HAVE TO PAY UTILITY BILLS, CAR PAYMENTS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH IM SURE IS THREE TIMES MORE THAN WHAT THE TOTAL FAMILY COST OF LIVING PER MONTH IN PAGO IS. THE PEOPLE OF AMERICAN SAMOA SHOULD CHOOSE WISELY WITH THEIR CHOICE OF ASSISTANCE AND APPRECIATE EVERY CENT THEY GET.
Ma'afe'e  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 06:43 AM
The Govenor provided some needed information for the people. I hope the two options ($30 gs or new home) addressed by the Governor were made available to the people from the start for choices. Comment by FIA has a valid point that should be considered. In all this, please people! accept in good-faith and thank you to the good samaritan's (FEMA) hand. Greed and dishonest has short-term effects with greater consequences on one's own conscious.
Pat C  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 05:49 AM
The importance of insurance should be stressed to all who own property...
More Concerned about Government Spending  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 04:23 AM
Writing checks, the treasury cannot cash-- that's Govenor Togiola. When in doubt, get a soapbox to preach good savings habits, yet, the guy spends more money and waste and abuses more taxes, than any Governor in the past. The Governor has the habit of preaching to an empty church. Only the illiterate and the dumb down of our society, understands the music from the pied piper of lost hopes. No one is listening and the Emperor has NO clothes.
Contracts to who?  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 03:41 AM
So if we let the FEMA build the house for 60+ K, who is the house-building contract going to? That's the bigger question. There's lots of "unsaid" things here Samoan people. Samoana, Ala Mai. The wolf in sheeps clothing is on the verge to pounce you when you don't even know it.
SAMTONG  wrote:
25 Nov 2009 02:18 AM
I SAY LETS TAKE THE M0NEY,AND BUILT A FALEO'O.SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE FAMILIES GO BACK HOME AND VISIT JUST TELL THEM SLEEP UNDERNEATH THE FALEO'O.FOR THE GOVERNOR JUDGING PEOPLE OF THEIR DECISION IS NONE OF HIS BEESNIZ.WHO KNOWS HE MIGHT TELL FEMA THAT HIS HOUSE WAS A EIGHT STORY HOUSE.GOOD LUCK MI SAMOAN PEOPLE.......
Anonymous  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 11:00 PM
How could someone that is taking money from the Government give advise about how our people should be spending their money. at least they didnt blunt out take it. For everyones information he has a yacht that is sitting in the harbor right now which was being said that it belongs to the government. What kind of guy would blow millions of tax payers money to buy a yacht. that is just unbelievable. very slick MR. GOVERNOR
GIVE ADVICE FOR THE BIRD  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 07:32 PM
Wow, the Governor telling out people to spend FEMA funds wisely!!! Governor lets start with you 1. $$$$ For the Siren, where did this go? 2.$$$$ Hawaii Heritage, loose change!!! 3.$$$ Luxury Yacht 4. $$$$ Fiber Optic??? or 5. $$$$ COS Samoa Packing. PLEASE STOP IT WITH THE ADVICE!!!Lets all write to Dear Abby
G.A.  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 07:26 PM
It's a pretty good sound advice. But still give them the option. Because some people can budget that 30K better than the FEMA would. Plus people would like to build their home the way they want. If FEMA build a 60K home for them and it's not what they want, then it will become a problem, but then on the other hand the people should be thankful that there are people who have offer to help. In my opinion the advice is a good one, but still give the people an option. Whatever they choose it is of their choice, there shouldn't be any complaint later on. Therefore, ua mama lima o le FEMA ma le government.
DubboTAP  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 06:28 PM
Sounds like the FEMA Candy store is open for business but everyone is angry cause there's no T-Bone steak....sheesh. Be grateful that FEMA is offering such great assistance instead of handing out permanent tents.
O si a'u miliona  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 03:53 PM
Faamolemole, regardless if your house was a six story house, the money you receive from FEMA is not an insurance claim. Also $30,000. dollars, that's enough for as an assistance not as an insuirance claim. Samoa, ua lauiloa oe i lou tu ma lau aganu'u, vaai i na ne'i matamata tagata o le FEMA i le isi aganu'u ta'u o le mana'o tele lena e maua fo'i e tagata Samoa. O le fa'afiapoto e iloa ai le fa'avalevalea, o le fa'avalevalea e tupu ai le ta'u valea o aiga ma Samoa loaloa atoa. Fai mai le muagagana, "Ola i mea ua maua". Ua tatau ona limiti i le ta'i $10,000. tala ona iloa lea o le leaga.
Manu'a  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 03:34 PM
Actually ASG under Togiola wants the money. IT works like this, ASG will try and get FEMA to give them the money. ASG in turn will draw-up the blueprint and select Samoan friend contractors to built those homes. You know what those homes will look like, your outside toilet. That is what they did to the people of Manu'a during hurricane Tusi. FEMA wanted the people to make a choice, take the $16,000.00 or have FEMA build one for that amount. ASG lobbied hard to FEMA to give them the money. FEMA gave in and ASG build alot of toilets on the island. Each of those toilets were worth $1,000.00 or 2,000.00 dollars, not $16,000.00 dollars. You want my advice, TAKE THE MONEY AND DO NOT COMPLAIN.
HT LUTU  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 03:21 PM
I can't believe the greed these people are displaying in view of the world to see. Instead of being thankful that people from all over the world have given so much, OBVIOUSLY, is never enough. FEMA should just turn their backs to these ungreatful savages and divert there relief funds back to the U.S. where people are more appreciative, unselffish, and civilized. Your homes were damaged due to an unfortunate act of god, the U.S. Government did not bomb your homes. Shame, Shame, Shame.
Get out of the Rat Race!!!  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 03:10 PM
yes, it is our choice. but this type of "thinking" is what makes people have to live paycheck to paycheck.... trust, you will never find something THAT GOOD anywhere else. FEMA is building your broke-@SS a real house, not some tinned shack on bricks and board.... These houses that they are looking to build are the ones that will be left before and after a storm....and to tell you the truth, its a decent, good-looking change! 30g's looks good up front, but what good is it when u dont have a place to rest your head at night? USE UR BRAIN....stop getting yourselves into the rat race!
LALOIFO  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 03:07 PM
WHO'S QUALIFIED & WHO'S NOT!!! WELL MY CLAIM FOR FEMA CAME OUT $0.00. BUT I CLAIM CRACKS ON THE WALL OF MY HOME, PLUS MY FLATSCREEN AND DVD, ALSO MY WASHER THAT BROKE DOWN DUE TO ELECTRICITY SHUT DOWN. AND GUESS WHAT THE FEMA TOLD ME WHEN I WENT TO DO MY APPEAL IS TO GO TO SBA, AND SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE ME A LOAN FOR MY TV, DVD & WASHER. HEY, PEOPLE THE REASON I DID THIS COMMENT TO THE FEMA PEOPLE IS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS NOT FAIR, BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM MY VILLAGE HAS BEEN LIVING IN SHACKS FOR MORE THAN 10YRS, EVEN BEFORE THE TSUNAMI, AND THEY GOT MONEY FROM FEMA FOR THEIR CLAIMS, BUT THE ONLY THING WE DID OUR CLAIM FOR IS THE EARTHQUAKE AND ELECRICITY. SO DO YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SHACKS GET $11,000.00 FROM FEMA, AND FOR WHAT? DON'T TELL ME YOU FEMA PEOPLE FELT SORRY FOR THIS PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN SHACKS, IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN THAT IS NOT FAIR. COMPARE TO US WHO SWEATS OUR BUNS TO BUILD NICE HOUSE FOR OUR CHILDREN SAKE. AND GUESS WHAT FEMA PEOPLE THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF TO WESTERN SAMOA TO DO FAMILY BUSINESS THEIR. AND WHAT ABOUT US U.S NATIONAL THAT YOU DENIED THEIR CLAIMS? WELL I DON'T WANT ANY ELSE TO DO WITH FEMA, BUT AT LEAST I GET TO SHARE MY POINT OF VIEW.
U.S. NATIONAL  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 02:41 PM
i just can't believe what i'm reading...our people should be thankful that there's help instead of nothing..be thankful..n plus the fact that some argue about the money that they receive is not enough!!!..gosh people have mercy..now that the FEMA people will have negative thoughts of how our people respond..thinking that we dont except what they are giving us...i guess the Governor should give more examples and go into details so the people can understand...unbelieveable!!!! thanks to the Governor for his humbleness..
KBR in da house  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 02:21 PM
That's okay. $30,000.00 goes a long way when I spend it. Labor won't cost a thing when my cousins and I build it and build it NOW. I don't want to have to wait on the FEMA (who's already drinking the ASG Kool-Aid) to use more taxpayers dollars on my house when it's something I won't like in the end. The money will end up going to government contractors (probably KBR) that are here to suck us dry. I don't want a cookie-cutter home and I can maximize the use of the funds entrusted to my care. I promise I won't buy CDs and big screen TVs. I need a house a little more.
Mr.Amoa  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 02:17 PM
Oh please people, "don't be greedy"accept what Uncle Sam has to offer,where else should you turn to for a help like this...ONLY IN AMERICA! Thats the bigger umbrella which covers ours for the last hundred and nine years!They don't have this kind of help in our neighbor Island of Samoa,god bless them!
Tama Samoa Moni  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 02:15 PM
Got to hand this one to Governor Togiola. I believe the Governor is giving a very good example to our people so that a well calculated decision is made to either accept the $30 thousand cap, or go for the total house which FEMA would built leading up to a cost of $60 thousand. Our citizens need to understand the difference between the two and make that decision which they believe is best for their family. It is an individual decision and I believe the explanation from Governor Togiola sheds light to the assistance that is available for qualified families. Malo Governor!
FIA  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 12:15 PM
if the concern is about families deciding to take the cash and not letting the FEMA rebuild their homes, why then don't they just make it one choice....no cash. that way the government will rest assure that the long term homeless problem will resolve in the near future. it's a sure thing those families deciding to take the money will NOT put it in good use.
Yep  wrote:
24 Nov 2009 09:09 AM
What samadda-- you need a baby sitter as well. Government get out of peoples business, let them choose-- Right or Wrong-- moral authority from Governor, just does not exist. Guv, go ride your yacht and do your playboy role with a cigar on the side of your mouth. Choice, Freedom, Liberty says, we do not need a government telling us how to think, sleep or spend. Get out of our pocket books, stop spending our taxes like you have been and for petes sake look for a job. Your job is up for grabs in 3 years.