Contributions tagged with "American_Samoa"

This is an update on the FEMA response and recovery efforts in American Samoa by Ken Tingman, Federal Coordinating Officer.

A compilation showing supplies bound for American Samoa being loaded at FEMA's Fort Worth logistics center.

Capt. Michael Bryce, U.S. Public Health Service, discuss the role of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams in support of FEMA's response to the earthquake and tsunami disaster in American Samoa.

Today, FEMA representatives met with American Samoa Village Mayors to discuss how the FEMA Individual Assistance program will be administered. At the conclusion of the meeting, several mayors spoke on how the disaster has impacted their villages.

Today, FEMA representatives met with American Samoa Village Mayors to discuss how the FEMA Individual Assistance program will be administered. At the conclusion of the meeting, several mayors spoke on how the disaster has impacted their villages.

One week after a tsunami hit American Somoa, Governor Togiola Tulafono and Kenneth Tingman, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer discuss the recovery actions that have occured during that period.

Major John Adams, Company Commander, U.S. Army, describes how FEMA short-term housing packages and commodities are provided to American Samoans impacted by the earthquake and tsunami.

One week after a tsunami hit American Somoa, Governor Togiola Tulafono and Kenneth Tingman, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer discuss the recovery actions that have occurred during that period.

Casey De Shong, External Affairs Specialist, provides a tour of the recently opened Disaster Recovery Center in Utulei, American Samoa.

Kenneth Tingman, Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA in American Samoa, summarizes the recovery status since the South Pacific Islands were ravaged by both an earthquake and tsunami.

Gerard Stolar, Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA in American Samoa, discuss how disaster response supplies are meeting the needs of the citizens.

As part of its mission to restore electrical power in American Samoa, FEMA flew in generators using cargo planes. On one mission, FEMA used an Antonov 225 cargo plane. It is the world's largest fixed wing aircraft.Mark Ackerman, FEMA Staging Area Group Supervisor, explains the logistical considerations that went into using this cargo plane.

As the earthquake and tsunami disaster in American Samoa transitions into recovery,the Department of Defense (DOD) assets used during the response are being demobilized. Col. Jay George, Defense Coordinating Officer, and Kenneth Tingman, Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA, summarize the DOD support to FEMA during the earthquake and tsunami operation.

enneth R. Tingman, federal coordinating officer for the earthquake, tsunami and flooding disaster in American Samoa starting Sept. 29, 2009, describes the recovery progress made in three weeks by FEMA, its federal partners and the American Samoa Government. Major topics are debris removal, HAZMAT removal, registration and financial assistance for disaster survivors, installation of generators to restore electrical power and immediate sheltering provisions now being followed-up with planning for mid-term and long-term housing solutions.

The first stage of power restoration in American Samoa has been completed and rolling blackouts in the Pago Pago area have ended. Addition of a second large generator and a larger transformer at one location, plus installation of a larger transformer to match the capacity of an existing larger generator at another location did the job. However, the island still has only one operating power plant. Replacement of the other plant, inundated by the tsunami on Sept. 29, 2009, is estimated to take two years.

FEMA assigned the U.S. Coast Guard to the task of removing hazardous material that was washed into Pago Pago Harbor by the tsunami of September 29. The debris included vehicles, which threaten pollution from their gasoline, oil, battery acid, anti-freeze and other fluids. The Coast Guard contracted with Pacific Environmental Corp. (PENCO) to do the work. PENCO sent divers and it's 100-foot dive tender "American Islander" from Hawaii. The mission was completed in about three weeks under Coast Guard supervision.

Nancy Ward, FEMA Region IX administrator, viewed the recovery progress in American Samoa following the devastating earthquake, tsunami and flooding of September 29, 2009. Then she and territorial Gov. Togliola Tulafono held a news conference at the Joint Field Office to describe their impressions. Both praised the work of the other. Ms. Ward lauded the spirit and clean-up efforts of the people of American Samoa.

Larger, stronger and more durable tents are being distributed to families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquake, tsunami and flooding disaster of September 29, 2009. They will provide better interim shelter until dwellings can be repaired or replaced.

The second stage of a three-tier plan to restore electricity in American Samoa has been implemented. Larger leased generators have replaced the FEMA-owned and rented emergency generators that were placed throughout the island shortly after the devasting earthquake and tsunami of September 29, 2009. The new generators will be in place for at least 18 months or until the destroyed Satala Power Station is replaced.

Tsunami debris littering private property in American Samoa became such a public health hazard that the Territorial Governor asked FEMA for a waiver to allow it to reimburse his government for removing that debris. The exception was granted. FEMA and American Samoan government officials held a series of meetings in affected villages in late October through November to explain how the Public Assistance debris removal program worked. One such meeting was held in the Mayor's Guest House in the village of Nua Seetaga. FEMA and territorial officials, including Kenneth R. Tingman, Federal Coordinating Officer, wore traditional Samoan clothing out of respect for the traditional culture of the villages.

Recently, former Chicago Bears football player, Gabe Reid and former Philadelphia Eagles football player, Reno Mahe, visited American Samoa to express their appreciation for the work that has occured to help American Samoa recover from the recovery on behalf of the National Football League. During their visit, they had an opportunity to stop by FEMA's Joint Field Office and Disaster Recovery Center.

When the U.S. Navy began administration of the newly acquired territory of American Samoa in 1900, it had to buy land to create a cemetery for naval personal. It was and still is the custom of Samoans to bury their loved ones in front of their homes. There were no cemeteries for foreigners. That historic cemetery, the Satala Cemetery, was damaged by the tsunami on September 29, 2009. The American Samoan government has applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant to help pay for the cemetery's restoration.

In agreement with the American Samoan government, FEMA has contracted to build about 70 concrete block homes to replace some of the 275 dwellings destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami of September 29, 2009. Owners of the other homes chose to rebuild their homes on their own with the help of a FEMA cash grant. The new two or three-bedroom homes and their homesites will meet all applicable American Samoan and federal regulations.

First-graders at Afono Tele Elementary School in American Samoa are among the first to enjoy one of the new air-conditioned temporary classrooms that FEMA has installed at five schools destroyed or damaged by the earthquake and tsunami of September 29, 2010.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency returned to American Samoa in January to complete the clean-up and removal of hazardous waste from the tsunami. The agency also neutralized and removed pre-existing HAZMAT conditions.

David Vaeafe, executive director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, and Jonathan Colwell, FEMA GIS specialist, tell us the story of how FEMA made a detailed map of island of Tutuila for the American Samoa Visitors Bureau.

The U.S. Coast Guard lost its headquarters in American Samoa to the tsunami of September 29, 2009. The three-man detachment was in separate locations that morning, but able to escape the waves and regroup to begin responding using the Incident Command System.