American Samoa is conducting a reassessment of the damage done to homes and properties that were affected by this summer's severe storms, flooding and mudslides, as part of its plan to appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of its Individual Assistance request.

When President Obama declared early last month that an emergency exists in American Samoa following the disaster which occurred between July 29 and Aug. 3, the territory was only granted Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation, while FEMA denied Individual Assistance funds.

FEMA said in its denial that the impact to individual and households during the severe storms was not of the severity or magnitude to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance. which is to help individuals and households that have suffered losses and have outstanding needs as the result of a major disaster

According to FEMA, the Public Assistance program helps fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of public facilities that are damaged or destroyed by a disaster.

It is not to be confused with public welfare programs.

Eligible applicants include territory and local governments, Native American tribes, and certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations that provide essential governmental services.

Local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) Director Iuniasolua Savusa said it’s important for all government departments and agencies, as well as non-profits to contact his office at this time if they had any damage during the recent floods, so that their applications for public assistance can be reviewed and processed.

During Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, ASDHS deputy director Jacinta Brown revealed that American Samoa will appeal the denial of Individual Assistance, with Oct. 10 being the deadline to submit the appeal.

She says a team of representatives from government agencies will revisit villages where homes were damaged by the disaster and information gathered will be a part of the appeal “that we are pursuing with FEMA" for reconsideration of the denial.

Brown said the purpose is to revisit the assessment done after the storm to raise awareness to the “uniqueness of our local community” compared to communities in other states and territories.

She says calls are constantly being received by ASDHS from families whose homes were damaged by the disaster but not covered in the initial Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA).

(FEMA spokesman John Hamill had told Samoa News that the PDAs are ‘required’ as an initial step in determining whether supplemental federal disaster assistance is needed to recover from an event. However, actual eligibility is not guaranteed, he said.)

The deputy director also said that other assessment needs or requirements that are pertinent to the appeal is the impact on potable water as well any health issues which came about as a result of the storm. She said that information was not included in the first assessment, but will be incorporated into the appeal phase.

Some of the concerns which are being addressed and raised by agency representatives involved in this work, are that homeowners may not have been home during the visitations, which are held during working hours. Agency representatives will need 'after hour' passes for use of government vehicles to do this work.

Brown said ASDHS has been informed by the U.S. Small Business Administration that an official from this federal agency will not be traveling to American Samoa until the appeal issue is resolved.

Following Obama’s disaster declaration, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced two weeks ago that it is making low-interest federal disaster loans available to certain private, nonprofit organizations (PNPs) in American Samoa.

Meanwhile, FEMA and ASDHS said Monday in a joint news release that the Public Assistance process is underway for American Samoa government agencies to get federal help in recovering from the severe storms.

FEMA designated Federal Coordinating Officer Kenneth Suiso, who is heading the local recovery, said Public Assistance grants reimburse state and local governments for emergency measures, debris clean-up, and repair to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

“Our mission is to help restore critical infrastructure so communities can recover from a disaster and support their citizens,” he said.

Yesterday, a Joint Field Office (JFO) was opened in Honolulu where ASDHS, FEMA and other agencies will continue coordinating support for response and recovery efforts in American Samoa following the severe storms.

According to a statement, the office will be opened 8a.m. to 4p:30pm. weekdays until further notice. The JFO, which will be for administrative purposes only, will enable effective and efficient coordination of disaster response and recovery operations among state, federal and other agencies.