Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Federal assistance for damage in American Samoa as a result of high surf, high winds, and flooding from July 12 to July 15 this year, “will be limited to 75% of the total eligible costs,” according to the initial federal notice of the US Presidential Disaster Declaration issued on Sept. 15.

And this means ASG pays 25% of total eligible costs. As in past disasters, ASG can request a reduction of the share — 90% federal and 10% local, according to two ASG officials who also said that the Administration does plan on seeking the reduction of the cost-share, or a full exemption — meaning everything is paid by federal aid.

The federal notice, made public online last Friday by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), gives a summary of the Presidential declaration, that a major disaster exists in American Samoa as well as related determinations.

“Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance be supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the [federal] Stafford Act for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation will be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs,” the declaration states.

Furthermore, FEMA is “authorized to make changes to this declaration for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the Stafford Act,” it says.

In order to provide Federal assistance, the declaration authorized FEMA to provide the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, according to the federal notice.

A Public Assistance Program provides assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities; and the Hazard Mitigation Grant provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

FEMA official Benigno B. Ruiz has been appointed the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations for American Samoa.

A FEMA disaster recovery team arrived in the territory more than a week ago to work with local officials on this declared disaster.