COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT-MITIGATION (CDBG-MIT)
American Samoa was devastated by Tropical Cyclone Gita, also known as DR-4357. In December 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an allocation of $1.4 million in CDBG-Mitigation program funds to the Territory of American Samoa. This allocation was per Public Law 116-20, signed by President Trump on June 6, 2019, to address the unmet needs and long-term recovery efforts due to widespread damages caused by Tropical Storm Gita. As a recipient of CDBG-DR Program funds, the CDBG-Mitigation program was also created through the HUD and made available to DOC and the Territory of American Samoa to help prepare for future disasters.
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As required by HUD, the American Samoa Department of Commerce (DOC) has prepared this Action Plan to access the CDBG-MIT funds for use on the Territorial Hazard Mitigation Actions. In 2020 the Territory of American Samoa through the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) adopted a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan MHMP that incorporated long-term planning and hazard risk assessment. A risk-based hazard assessment was conducted through the MHMP, which identified significant current and future disaster risks. Within the MHMP, a plan highlighted 55 primary projects that should be prioritized for implementation. This CDBG Mitigation Action further refines the list of 55 projects, proposing 1 of the projects that may be achieved with approximately 1.4 million
HUD definition of Mitigation
Activities that increase resilience and reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of loss of life, injury, damage to and loss of property, and suffering and hardship, by lessening the impact of future disasters.
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CDBG MIT. Areas
Tualauta District
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The Territorial Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which guides what actions might be pursued with the HUD mitigation funding, included a risk analysis of all identified hazards. The analysis considered the probability of occurrence and potential impacts on people, property, and the economy. Based upon this risk assessment, the hazards were ranked and provided differing priority levels for implementing actions and pursuing grant funding. A list of 55 potential hazard mitigation actions was then identified for implementation. However, the Department of Commerce selected one unique project-The Fagaima Drainage System, implemented with CDBG Mitigation Funding.
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On November 1st, 2022, an Action Plan was submitted for HUD's review after a 45-day public comment period. No comments were received during this period after a notice was posted to inform all citizens of American Samoa soliciting public input. The main purpose of the public notice is to inform the public that the program funds will go towards a unique project, The Fagaima Drainage System, to address the unmet disaster needs of Tropical Cyclone Gita, and how funds will be spent to support this. To access a copy of the submitted Initial Action Plan, contact CDBG Mitigation Program Coordinator, Agnes Lamositele at agnes.lamositele@doc.as.gov for more information.
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Information was updated on 08/22/2023 at 12:18 PM