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FEMA removes ODAPM from restrictions imposed in 2009

FEMA
Homeland Security in line for the same opportunity soon
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has removed restrictive drawdown status from the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) and the federal agency hopes to provide the same opportunity in the near future to the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS).

FEMA Regonal 9 Regional Administration, Robert J. Fenton Jr. informed Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga in a letter last week about the latest development for ASG.

“In recognition of the significant progress American Samoa has made in improving its grants management operations,” Fenton informed the governor that “FEMA is removing” ODAPM “from the restricted draw status that has been in effect since 2009”. 

“This action is effective immediately and will be in place for a probationary period of 12 months, during which time my team will continue to work with ODAPM to provide the ongoing support and technical assistance necessary to ensure the removal is permanent,”

Fenton also informed the governor that FEMA hopes “to provide the same opportunity to American Samoa Department of Homeland Security in the very near future” and “my team has acknowledged the continued dedication of AS-DHS staff in improving their internal processes for administering FEMA grants.”

“We are confident that the remaining actions can be quickly achieved through our ongoing collaboration,” he said and commends the efforts made by both AS-DHS and ODAPM “to get to this point, and look forward to our continued partnership.”  

In response, the governor thanked Fenton for FEMA's “confidence that the American Samoa Government can raise to the level of cooperation and accountability. We would also thank you for our partnership in improving our service to the people.”

The governor also thanked Fenton “for answering our request for help during the COVID-19 outbreak in American Samoa.” He noted that through the leadership of Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, leading the COVID-19 Task Force, and the “tremendous support” from Allison Pfaendler, who is the lead of FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) deployed here for the virus surge, “does makes a big difference in helping our people, and we thank you.”

The governor noted that ODPAM director Lisa Tuato’o and ASDHS director Samana Semo Ve’ave’a “appreciate very much the collaborations between our agencies.”

With “such an accomplishment” Tuato’o, acknowledged her ODAPM team led by deputy director, Salu Tuigamala, as the Public Assistance Officer, the PA team Tracie Sataraka and Lologa Olo, Lima Fiatoa (State Hazard Mitigation Officer) and her Hazard Mitigation team Sandi Tonumaipe'a and Camilla Poufa, Finance Administrator Taliilagi Iongi and Accountant Lemapu Fairholt, Logistics Administrator Faailoa Kose, IT Administrator Johnathan Pen, Admin led by Taifau Janet Fagogo with Siulepa Grey and support team led by Levi Levi with Bryan Maifea, and David Siatunuu.

“ODAPM continues to ensure accountability and transparency of all work performed in order to maintain the integrity of our operations and the Lemanu and Talauega Administration,” said Tuato’o.  

She pointed out that in 2021, “ODAPM also received a no-findings report of our federal review of programs we administer.”

Tuato’o is referring to the positive review from FEMA on four disaster grant awards for two U.S Presidential-declared disasters in the territory. (See Samoa News edition Nov. 10, 2021 for details.)