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FEMA’s EMPG awards over $700K to American Samoa
American Samoa has been awarded approximately $761,546 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) program.
The award is listed in the EMPG distribution list and is subject to “special conditions,” meaning that although the money is earmarked for the territory, it will not be disbursed until a financial review of American Samoa’s Homeland Security funding is completed.
(Last year, FEMA placed a freeze on all grants to the territory, with the exception of emergency situations).
The funding promotes state and local jurisdictions to engage in comprehensive national and regional planning processes that seek to enhance emergency management and catastrophic capabilities through strengthened national and regional relationships.
The money is part of a $291 million allocation for FY 2008 and will be distributed to states and territories to assist them in sustaining and enhancing all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
Mike Sala, acting director of the local Department of Homeland Security which is the local administrator of FEMA funding, said that the award will support the emergency management mission areas, and structure individual emergency management programs based on identified needs and priorities to strengthen their capabilities as outlined in the territorial EMPG Work Plan.
Sala said that the plan will provide a proactive approach for preparedness, preventive, mitigation, response and recovery, as well as sustain and enhance all-hazards emergency.
He explained that the money will fund four projects:
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Evacuation Plan – update and revise plans to address mass evacuation and related areas – plans call for emergency management to work with stakeholders across all levels of government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to update the Territorial Emergency Operations Plan and develop/enhance emergency standard operating procedures.
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Emergency Communications and Warning in order to prevent or mitigate loss of life or property damage.
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Outreach program to train, strengthen, and increase community awareness on emergency response and preparations. The objective of this project is to educate and mobilize village communities in becoming more self-sufficient.
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Mitigation Program to be incorporated into the outreach campaign to educate the territory’s citizens at all levels on preventative measures to minimize damages to homes, properties, and infrastructure in the event of natural or man-made disasters.
Sala said that EMPG program provides a proactive approach for preparedness, preventive, mitigation, and response and recovery phases of emergency management to strategically equip the territory with an effective and efficient emergency management system.
He concluded, “I just want to thank my staff for a job well done!”
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