CORRECTION: No decision has been made yet on the federal “individual assistance” program for victims of Hurricane Lane. This Hawaii Tribune-Herald story, which cited a Hawaii County official, erroneously said the request was denied. Diane Ley, county Research and Development director, said she misspoke, and that the state’s request remains under review.
HILO — The federal government has denied the state’s request for “individual assistance” for Hurricane Lane, Hawaii County officials said Thursday.
That means residents whose homes were flooded won’t qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, though officials noted the state will appeal.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed because those families who were impacted were in some cases significantly impacted,” said Diane Ley, county Research and Development director, in a voicemail.
The county has updated its damage assessment to help with an appeal.
Talmadge Magno, county Civil Defense administrator, said 266 residential structures were damaged or affected, with 40 suffering major damage. Homes are considered “affected” if they were inaccessible because of the heavy rainfall, which dumped as much as 50 inches of rain over four days in some parts of East Hawaii.
That made it one of the wettest storms ever to hit the United States.
President Donald Trump approved the state’s request for a major disaster declaration last month, allowing the state and counties to be reimbursed 75 percent for damage to public infrastructure. That does not extend to individuals or private infrastructure.
County Managing Director Wil Okabe previously said the storm caused about $20 million in damage to county infrastructure.
If grants aren’t available through the individual assistance program, homeowners might still qualify for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration, a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the county is still hoping for a special session of the state Legislature to receive more funding for its response to the Kilauea eruption, though that window appears to be closing as the November general election approaches.
Roy Takemoto, executive assistant to Mayor Harry Kim, said the county is asking lawmakers for $7 million to help with disaster response through the next fiscal year.
Assuming the county gets that amount, it would then seek $140 million during the next regular session of the Legislature, he said.
That would include funding the recovery plan, mobilizing a redevelopment agency for Puna, and implementing some of the relocation plans.
Takemoto said FEMA has agreed to fund 75 percent of a $300,000 risk assessment study for the inundation area in lower Puna. That would look at what the risks are for residents who live near the inundation area or want to return and what can be done for mitigation.
The county might also qualify for federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
