Territorial Disaster Assistance Act of 1978 (American Samoa Code Annotated (A.S.C.A.): Title 26 - Environmental Safety and Land Management; Chapter 01 - Office of Disaster Assistance)

This act provides for territorial disaster assistance. Its purposes are to (1) reduce vulnerability of people and communities of this Territory to damage, injury, and loss of life and property resulting from natural or manmade catastrophes, riots, or hostile military or paramilitary action; (2) prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of persons victimized or threatened by disaster; (3) provide a setting conducive to the rapid and orderly start of restoration and rehabilitation of persons and property affected by disasters; (4) clarify and strengthen the roles of the Governor, Territorial agencies and local governments in prevention of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from disasters; (5) authorize and provide for cooperation in disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery; (6) authorize and provide for coordination of activities relating to disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery between agencies and officers of this Territory, and the federal government, other states and possessions of the United States, and foreign governments; (7) provide a disaster management system embodying all aspects of predisaster preparedness and postdisaster response; (8) assist in prevention of disaster caused or aggravated by inadequate planning for and regulation of public and private facilities and land use; and (9) supplement, without in any way limiting, authority conferred by previous statutes of this Territory and increase the capability of the Territory and local agencies to perform disaster assistance services.