Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A U.S Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) recovery team is scheduled to arrive Thursday night after U.S President Joe Biden’s disaster declaration issued last week following high surf, high winds and flooding that impacted the territory from July 12-15, 2022, according to ASG information.

The FEMA team will include Benigno Bern Ruiz, appointed as the FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) for this disaster.

Ruiz will work with Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, the Governor’s Authorized Representative and Territorial Coordinating Officer (TCO), Samana Semo Ve’ave’a — who is also the local Homeland Security director — to finalize the  FEMA and territorial agreement as well as to sign and complete the Public Assistance form in order for funds to be released and awarded.

Also traveling Thursday are a two person FEMA Public Assistance team — Sarah Stryhanyn and Karen Schieberl to work with Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) deputy director Salu Tuigamala, who is also the Public Assistance Officer (PAO) for disaster recovery.

As of yesterday morning the federal team had all completed registration on the ASG TalofaPass websystem — which screens entry into the territory — and they are awaiting approval, which was expected late yesterday afternoon.

FEMA Region 9 Recovery Division director Robert Pesapane — representing FEMA Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton — is arriving next week Monday, with a seven-member team for the territory’s 1st Annual Disaster Resilience Summit set for Sept. 27 to 29 at Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium.

ASG officials say that the FEMA Volcano Planning team, Disaster team and Preparedness team are all coming in the upcoming weeks.