Ads by Google Ads by Google

Lt. Gov. Lemanu calls on ASG agencies to be prepared for cyclone season

Lt. Gov. Lemanu Sialega Palepoi Mauga
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last week Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Sialega Palepoi Mauga reminded cabinet members to always be prepared for disasters, especially during the upcoming cyclone season, which runs from Nov. 1st to Apr. 30th.

He said that with the holidays approaching, the territory is heading into cyclone season and preparedness is not only important for Tutuila but also for the Manu’a island group. He said that during the holidays, with schools out on their usual  break, there are times when there’s no sailing of the government vessels for the island group, due to bad weather.

And this is the time to start making preparations for Manu’a, with the School Lunch Program, administered by the Department of Education, he said, noting that even if schools are on holiday break, school lunch supplies should still be sent to the island group, because if a disaster occurs and vessels can’t travel, at least there is already food supply in Manu’a.

Public Works Department should also look at their preparations for gasoline to be shipped to Manu’a, said Lemanu who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) to the federal agencies for local disasters.

Lemanu also informed cabinet members to submit to the Governor’s Office their agency’s individual Disaster Plan, which outlines three important matters:

•    evacuation plan for the specific agency/department;

•    your agency’s office plan to support the territorial disaster plan. For example DOE, they are in charge of school buildings used as emergency shelters for residents who are displaced, and what’s needed for those shelters;

•    the resources needed by the agency/office to execute that office’s disaster plan as well as the Territorial Plan, information on the resources needed by the local Department of Homeland Security to be transmitted to the federal government in case of a disaster.

Lemanu said identifying “resources” needed in advance, will help local officials with their requests to the federal government for urgent needs after a disaster.

He also recommended that agencies carry out practice drills based on their disaster plan, and not depend only on the local Homeland Security Department to initiate the drills. “Preparedness is important,” he added.