Report Details FEMA’s Problems in American Samoa
November 12, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Committee’s Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response Subcommittee released the following statements in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on FEMA’s response to the 2009 Earthquake and Tsunami affecting American Samoa. The report notes numerous problems with FEMA’s housing program in American Samoa including high costs, unrealistic deadlines, lack of a strategy, and procedural irregularities.
Chairman Thompson released the following statement with the release of the report:
“Following the devastating tsunami that swept American Samoa in September of 2009, FEMA took steps to provide housing and other forms of disaster relief. In April of this year, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General reported that FEMA had awarded a contract to build houses on the island of American Samoa at an estimated cost of over $400,000. Amazed by such an exorbitant cost to build a three bedroom home, I demanded that FEMA take another look at the contract and put together a new plan that lowered the costs. I am pleased that FEMA has listened to recommendations of the Committee and has already taken steps to cut costs by half and use a local builder for Phase II construction, but we will continue to closely monitor FEMA's work to ensure the missteps identified in today's IG report are not repeated.”
Chairwoman Richardson added the following statement:
“I am deeply concerned with some of the reported issues that have plagued FEMA’s recovery efforts in American Samoa. As the representative of the district with the largest concentration of Samoans living in the United States, and the chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, I am committed to making sure that FEMA corrects these problems and that the American Samoans experience a smooth and speedy recovery.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
