The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has awarded a grant of $2,4 million to assist the American Samoa Power Authority’s in its Underground Mitigation Project.
The FEMA grant is to relocate the transmission and distribution power lines from the Tafuna Ottoville area to the Malaeimi intersection.
The overhead power lines will now be placed underground, protecting them from high wind damage during hurricanes and cyclones.
In announcing the grant, Congresswoman Aumua Amata said, “The people of American Samoa are well aware of the damage caused by hurricanes and cyclones to our island.
“Due to the high cost of repairs we see after each and every storm, it makes sense to develop a permanent plan to address the issue, and prevent further costs, and power outages.”
She thanked FEMA officials, who saw the need and importance for this funding, as well as those here in American Samoa, who put in the work to ensure that ‘our beautiful island” was considered for these funds.
The congresswoman said this is a great project, that will allow for far fewer outages, and will also allow the territory to save a considerable amount of money in the future, because “we will no longer have to repair and replace downed lines in that area.”
