Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has dispatched three different teams to American Samoa, including a team working on public assistance following the Presidential declaration following the high surf, high winds, and flooding in the territory that occurred in July this year.

FEMA Region IX Recovery Division director, Robert Pesapane shared the latest information during his keynote address at the opening Tuesday of the three-day Amerika Samoa 1st Annual Disaster Resilience Summit, hosted by the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) at Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium.

Pesapane arrived on island Monday night and although it’s his first visit to the territory, he told the audience that, as the national deputy federal coordinating officer for COVID-19, “I have been in many meetings with senior officials and I know they are committed to disaster readiness and response.”

During his remarks, Pesapane announced FEMA’s “Three Teams for Three Goals” approach and explained that there are three different FEMA teams in American Samoa this week pursuing three different goals.

“Our small disaster recovery team arrived last week to continue working on Public Assistance disaster funding for the severe storms and high tides that hit in July,” he explained. “We want to reimburse American Samoa agencies and other eligible applicants quickly for the emergency work completed and the permanent work that needs to take place.”

With increased seismic activity on the island of Ta’u and concerns about a volcanic eruption, he said FEMA dispatched early last week a 9-person planning, logistics and communication team to work with American Samoa authorities on monitoring and evacuation plans, in case the volcano grows more active.

The third team on island is from FEMA’s Recovery and Mitigation divisions and the Pacific Area Office in Hawaii that is attending the summit this week. “These three teams reflect our commitment to working with American Samoa in all phases of emergency management and on all hazards,” he said.

Pesapane shared his hope that through the formal sessions during this three-day summit, and through conversations between formal sessions, “I hope each of us concludes this meeting with some key actions we can take to improve the safety and welfare of the people, communities and economy of American Samoa.”

He also gave the audience updates from FEMA. For example, FEMA is updating its all-hazards plan for American Samoa and all partners in the Pacific. And the federal agency is working with American Samoa to develop a disaster financial management plan, so when federal disasters are declared, resources are well invested and leveraged, and fully accounted for.

Additionally, FEMA is also focused on three goals:

• establishing equity as a foundation in emergency management;

• leading whole-community climate resilience; and, promoting readiness here and across the nation—for themselves as responders; and

• for a growing roster of partners at all levels of government, in the private sector and with non-governmental organizations.

READINESS - NOW AND ALL YEAR

Pesapane also spoke about “individual and family readiness — now and all year.” He noted that the presence of an active disaster recovery team for a storm that took place in July, and a monitoring and planning team for the Tu’a volcano, “highlights the importance of year-round disaster readiness at home and in our communities.”

September is also National Preparedness Month — an annual 30-day long effort to bolster readiness, he said, adding that through the FEMA Ready.gov website, the agency sees there are many simple and low- and no-cost ways “we can be safer at home.”

For example, the fillable PDF Family Disaster Plan, compiling a Disaster Communications Plan, reviewing evacuation plans and zones for tsunamis or even house fires, and building or updating disaster kits.

“One of the most important things each of us can do before and during disasters, is to know where to receive emergency information,” he said, noting that one of the simple things to do for free is to download the FEMA App.

The app allows the person to subscribe to emergency and weather alerts and offers more tips on how to be ready, not scared about the risks a person faces in American Samoa.

CALL TO ACTION

“In addition to strengthening climate resilience, FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after disasters,” he said. “But we know that over years, we have sometimes not worked as effectively or as comprehensively as needed with some communities.”

“That’s why among our three strategic goals for the next five years is a focus on equity. Making sure we help more people more effectively, and we don’t leave groups or communities behind,” he pointed out.

He informed the audience that the federal government is “making unprecedented investments to improve resilience.” These include funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Flood Mitigation Assistance program and the $2.3 billion available nationally through, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities “BRIC” program.

He said his colleague Alison Kearns is here this week to ensure that the participants in the summit know the range of tools, technical assistance, planning resources and grant dollars available to make American Samoa safer and stronger.

“And FEMA is not the only agency with programs, training, technical assistance and financial resources to help you,” he told participants. “I am fortunate to lead a talented and dedicated Interagency Recovery Coordination team that seeks to compile available resources from government agencies, foundations, universities, and others.”

In conclusion, he thanked the governor and lieutenant governor for their efforts during the  COVID-19 pandemic and for the vision and commitment to increase disaster resilience.

He acknowledged the work by ODAPM and director Lisa Tuato’o for organizing this summit. And he recognized local Homeland Security Department director, Samana Semo Ve’ave’a and his staff for their work as well.

“It is great to see interagency partners from American Samoa and federal agencies coming together to share ideas and resources to tackle problems and find solutions,” he said and called on summit participants to work hard and “then continue to work together to make American Samoa safer and stronger.”