Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Saturday, March 3, 2018
Trump Approves American Samoa Disaster Declaration
By News Release @ 7:53 PM :: 4170 Views :: National News

Amata’s Letter to President Trump Outlines Key Federal Aid Requests for American Samoa

News Release from Office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata (R-AS) March 1, 2018

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata sent a letter to President Donald Trump informing the administration of several key ways in which the federal government could take the next steps to help American Samoa following the severe damages of Cyclone Gita, and in support of Governor Lolo’s request for a major disaster declaration by the President.

“We appreciate President Trump’s rapid response with the emergency disaster declaration to set initial assistance in motion,” said Aumua Amata. “Now, we’re moving on to the next important steps the federal government can take in support of Governor Lolo’s requests, and the territory’s necessary procedural steps to obtain this much-needed assistance. We’re getting the word out every day in Washington that American Samoa needs significant help, and doesn’t have the economic power to overcome these obstacles without sustained assistance.”

Specifically, the letter to the President addresses several main components: 1) Declaring a Major Disaster to allow the next phase of significant federal assistance, 2) action on a fishing expansion that will benefit American Samoa’s economic recovery both immediately and long term, 3) waiving the FEMA match so that the territory no longer needs to come up with 25 percent matching funds, 4) waiving Medicaid match requirements to allow more funds to flow promptly to essential needs and 5) farm and small business loan assistance from the Small Business Administration and Department of Agriculture.

“These are important steps to get funding where it’s needed most,” continued Congresswoman Amata. “I’m taking every opportunity to describe the full magnitude of Cyclone Gita’s impact to policy makers throughout Washington, D.C., and urging these multiple remedies that can help our people in this time of need.”

PDF: Request Letter

  *   *   *   *   *

President Donald J. Trump Approves American Samoa Disaster Declaration

News Release from The White House, March 2, 2018

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the territory of American Samoa and ordered Federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the territory due to Tropical Storm Gita from February 7 to February 12, 2018.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the territory of American Samoa.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to the territory and to certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Gita in the territory of American Samoa.

Furthermore, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures throughout the territory.

Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Benigno Bern Ruiz as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering at the Disaster Recovery Center that will open in the coming days. Territorial authorities are planning an orderly process to assist all survivors and will provide details through community and media channels.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii