Federal Disaster Assistance for Hawaii weather crises recovery tops $2.5 million
Recovery from the April severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides, in the City and County of Honolulu and Kaua’i County due to severe Hawaii weather is underway. On June 27, 2018, individuals and households were immediately able to begin registering for federal assistance. To date, more than $2.5 million in state and federal assistance grants to individuals and households has been approved.
As of close of business Monday, July 16, nearly $1.1 million for rental assistance, housing repair or replacement has been awarded to over 180 individuals and households. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is August 27, 2018.
Those who are uninsured and have unmet needs have received nearly $153 thousand so far from FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program (ONA) for replacement of basic personal property, including basic furnishings, medical equipment, and automobiles damaged or destroyed by the disaster. Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency bears 25 percent of those costs. ONA is limited to those without insurance and other resources to pay for their needs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided nearly $1.5 million low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits. The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other sources and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. Applicants may apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela . Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339.
The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are staffed by representatives of FEMA and SBA and homeowners, renters, and businesses can still register with FEMA and apply for low-interest disaster loans with SBA by visiting the DRC locations.
All DRCs are equipped with assistive technologies to help survivors with disabilities register for assistance. FEMA equipped each center with accessibility kits to ensure all people have full access to FEMA information and assistance programs. American Sign Language Interpreters are available upon request. If you need assistance, please speak to the DRC Manager.
The DRC locations are:
Kaua‘i
– Hanalei Elementary School Cafeteria; 5-5415 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI
The City and County of Honolulu
– Aina Haina Elementary; 801 W. Hind Drive, Honolulu, HI
The DRCs in Hanalei and Honolulu are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The DRCs are closed on Sundays. Both DRCs are scheduled to cease operations beginning Saturday, July 28, 2018.
Survivors may also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
