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American Samoa deadline to register for disaster assistance is tomorrow

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Federal Emergency Management Agency and ASG remind members of the public impacted by Tropical Storm Gita, that 4p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1, is the deadline to register for federal disaster assistance.

Anyone with damage due to the storm must register with FEMA at the Disaster Recovery Center, located at the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center, to be eligible for help from FEMA and the US Small Business Administration.

According to officials, a large number of people have registered with ASG but have not registered with FEMA. Those who pre-registered with ASG and have not registered with FEMA may do so either of three ways:

•    On-line at www.DisasterAssistance.gov

•    Call  699-2018

•    Go to the DRC in Pago Pago, which is opened from 8a.m. to 4p.m.

The public is also reminded that a FEMA registration has a nine-digit number. If you do not have the nine-digit number, you are not registered for federal assistance. Only heads of household need to apply.

Call the storm Help Line, 699-2018 — if you have already registered with FEMA and have questions about your registration or mail you have received.

FEMA public information officer, Victor Inge told Samoa News last week that if a person impacted by the storm didn’t get a chance to pre-register they can come directly to the DRC to pre-register and then register at the same time, all under one roof.

And if you are a homeowner, renter, business, or public non-profit and interested in SBA’s low interest loans, you must also register with the DRC first.

Applicants are reminded to have the following information at hand for DRC registration: social security number; address of the damaged primary residence; description of the damage; information about insurance coverage if applicable; current contact telephone number; address where they can receive mail; and bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

While the deadline for submission of applications is the close of business on May 1, the DRC will still be open after that, but with scaled back staff.