Emergency Notice: FEMA Update

Following is a summary of an update on relief efforts on the ground in American Samoa, pursuant to a conference call with FEMA and the White House.

FEMA and other federal agencies have 120 people on the ground assisting with relief efforts. Three hundred homes were destroyed. Thirty-four people are confirmed dead and search and rescue continue. There are 9 shelters currently open, with 1384 registered people in 210 families. The Red Cross is doing a great job in providing food relief to 2000 people a day. Because of the amazing response by the local government, federal government, people and businesses that have donated, the Red Cross has enough food on island to continue its food relief mission for the next 2 ½ months. These numbers will no doubt change and I’ll update you as they come in.

It is not known when schools will reopen, but some may soon. The port, airport, hospital are operational. No medical teams are needed since hospital services have stabilized and many helping hands are on island. (Two medical teams have redeployed to Hawaii preparing for typhoon heading towards CNMI and Guam). The water system is stabilizing but water pressure remains very low. Electrical power remains a critical priority and will continue to fluctuate over the next few days. The eastern district is still without power and generators are being moved in to those affected villages. There is still limited mobile phone service.

The Red Cross has set up a website www.redcross.org\safeandwell for people outside of American Samoa to check if their loved ones self-registered that they are safe and well. This requires people here to register on the site, but I believe the Red Cross and LDS is doing the registration for people. You can also call 1-866-GET-INFO and they will continue to do this as long as needed.

In short, thanks to the generosity and quick response of so many people, there is great manpower and commodities on island now to take care of the basic needs of our displaced families for the short term. But we will continue to need help until we can get families back on their feet.( Independent Samoa remains in great need of assistance.) Even though the relief supplies are plenty, the key is to get these out to the families in need and it appears to be going ok. Between the shelters and relatives, displaced families have places to live but, 20 to a house is difficult to sustain. As basic needs are met, displaced families are beginning to ask “Now what?” FEMA is out in the fields doing their best to assess and move the process along.
Thank you,
Sandra