President Declares Disaster for Hawaii

News Release from FEMA November 3, 2014

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Hawaii to supplement to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō volcanic eruption and lava flow beginning on September 4, 2014, and continuing.

The President's action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures taken as a result of the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō volcanic eruption and lava flow in Hawaii County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in Hawaii County.   

Kenneth K. Suiso has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Suiso said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII DECLARATION

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of Hawaii.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures (Category B) taken to save lives and protect property and public health.  Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog , www.twitter.com/fema , www.facebook.com/fema  and www.youtube.com/fema .  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema .

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE TO HELP BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII RECOVER FROM KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTION AND PU‘U ‘Ō‘Ō LAVA FLOW

News Release from FEMA November 4, 2014

HONOLULU – President Barack Obama’s disaster declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make its Public Assistance program available to reimburse eligible emergency protective actions taken by the state, county and certain private non-profits (PNP) to save lives and protect public health and safety from the impact of the Kilauea Volcano eruption and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flow.

The Public Assistance process is underway for eligible actions taken before, during, and after the disaster. Examples of eligible emergency protective measures include: warning of risks and hazards, emergency repairs, shelters and emergency and mass care, and security forces in disaster area.

“The Public Assistance program should not be confused with FEMA’s Individual Assistance and does not provide financial assistance to homeowners or individuals,” said Ken Suiso, the Federal Coordinating Officer for response and recovery operations for this disaster. “Our mission is to support emergency protective measures that eliminate or reduce an immediate threat to life, public health, or safety.”

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, and certain PNPs that provide an essential governmental service. All eligible applicants are reimbursed on a cost-share basis of usually 75 percent federal. The Public Assistance eligibility period for the Kilauea lava flow is Sept. 4 and ongoing. Additional Public Assistance categories may be added in the future.

FEMA is working with a host of other federal agencies, working under their own authority in response to the lava flow. They include U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highways, U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaii Volcano Observatory.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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VIDEO: Tulsi Gabbard reports for duty during the Puna lava flow

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President Obama Signs Hawaii Disaster Declaration

News Release from The White House November 3, 2014

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō volcanic eruption and lava flow beginning on September 4, 2014, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures taken as a result of the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō volcanic eruption and lava flow in Hawaii County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in Hawaii County.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Kenneth K. Suiso as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR PAHOA LAVA FLOW

HONOLULU – In response to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s Oct. 24 request for federal aid to supplement local emergency protective measures in response to the June 27th lava flow, President Barack Obama today signed a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance.

Today’s Presidential Disaster Declaration allows for emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to assist Hawaii County.

Emergency protective measures undertaken by Hawaii County include the repair, restoration, and re-establishment of alternate routes in and out of affected communities. State efforts include measures to accommodate approximately 900 schoolchildren that will be displaced by the lava flow, and support to county requests for additional air quality monitoring.

For updates on the Kilauea Lava Flow, visit the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency at hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts.

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