A top official of the Federal Emergency Management Administration paid a courtesy call to Gov. Neil Abercrombie yesterday en route to American Samoa to be briefed on the progress of recovery efforts since the September 2009 earthquake and tsunami there. 

The trip by Tim Manning, FEMA deputy administrator for Protection and National Preparedness, was scheduled before last week’s Japan earthquake and tsunami, FEMA public affairs director Rachel Racusen said.

Manning and Abercrombie talked about the process for damage assessements and the types of FEMA assistance available, but Hawaii made no specific requests at the meeting, Racusen said.

State administration officials have been in contact with FEMA’s regional office in Oakland, Calif., regarding specific issues, she said.