Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Agents with TEMCO division of the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) will assist local residents with the paperwork to apply for the U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for financial assistance with COVID-19 related funeral costs, says Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, responding to a media question during Monday’s virtual news conference.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA provides financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

With COVID-19 related deaths being recorded in the territory, FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) leader, Allison Pfaendler was asked during Monday’s news conference to share information on the federal funeral assistance program.

Pfaendler explained that the “process is relatively simple” by calling the Help Line - 844-684-6333 with hours of operation from 2am. to 2p.m local Samoa Standard time. She said a FEMA representative will walk the caller through questions and the process takes about 15 to 20 minutes to go through the process. And there are also required documents, such as the official death certificate.

Pfaendler noted that she is aware that TEMCO is supporting local residents who require assistance through this application process and this was confirmed by Talauega, who said agents with TEMCO are ready to provide assistance to residents who would prefer help from the local department and have their paperwork in order.

The Governor’s Office announced in April last year the availability of the funeral assistance program, along with the requirement such as providing the death certificate that indicates the death was attributed to or caused by COVID-19.

FEMA online public data shows that as of Mar. 15 this year, the federal agency has received fewer than 10 applications from American Samoa, and just $6,488 had been approved.

FEMA had previously stated that once someone has applied for assistance, they have six months to return requested information to help process the claim. Once applicants have supplied all documentation, a FEMA case worker reviews it, and an eligibility determination is made in less than 25 days.

Additional information about COVID-19 funeral assistance, including frequently asked questions, is available on FEMA.gov.

FEMA PRESENTATION

During the news conference, Pfaendler gave a brief update on the federal support to ASG’s response to the community COVID-19 spread, saying that a military charter flight over the weekend brought in two officials with the U.S Health and Human Service Department (USDHHS), including Commander Eduardo Cua as well as the group from NuWest group contracted to LBJ Medical Center.

On today’s Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu are 17 public health officers with USDHHS who will be replacing the outgoing 19-member public health service mission corps officers. Additionally, the USDHHS Health and Medical Task Force will also be leaving, but LBJ “will be in good hands” with the group from NuWest team, she said.

And U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiologist Dr. Thane Hancock has returned to support ASG by providing “virtual epidemiologist support”.

According to Pfaendler, FEMA and federal partners continue to support American Samoa as the US Army Corps of Engineers continues to provide technical assistance to the LBJ Medical Center conversion project. “This is a continuation of their previous assessment when they were on the ground,” she said.

Commander Cua offered brief comments, saying that he was last in the territory in 2019 and he’s glad that he’s back. And he gave “credit to the [local] leadership that kept American Samoa COVID free for so long.”

Cua had a chance last Sunday to conduct a site tour of LBJ and he said that “I feel confident, the team there — along with our federal support — is really ready to care for anyone who comes down with COVID-19.”