FEMA approves $522K for Kauai residents

HANALEI — Approximately $1.2 million in individual assistance grant funding has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to qualifying Kauai and Oahu residents, officials said. Of that amount, approximately $522,741 was approved for Kauai residents.

In addition, approximately $3.1 million in SBA home loans and business/economic injury disaster loans have been approved for Kauai and Oahu so far.

About 543 Kauai residents visited the island’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) and registered for individual assistance between June 29 and July 19.

The maximum grant qualifying residents may receive is $34,000. Currently, the average amount approved for housing assistance is $6,260.33, while other needs assistance is averaging $2,432.77.

FEMA will close the DRC in Hanalei on Saturday at 4 p.m., concluding four weeks of daily service for affected residents applying for individual assistance programs.

“I continue to encourage those who have not yet applied for FEMA or SBA assistance to do so as soon as possible and to visit the Hanalei DRC before it closes,” said Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “While residents can still apply online or by phone, there’s an added comfort and ease when receiving assistance in person. Mahalo to our federal partners and all who have provided services at our DRCs during the past few weeks.”

The Hanalei DRC will be closed today, but will be open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The DRC is located at Hanalei School.

The Hanalei DRC is an accessible facility where flood survivors may go to register for FEMA individual assistance programs, U.S. Small Business Administration loan assistance, and other disaster assistance programs.

Representatives are stationed at the DRC to answer questions and provide further assistance on low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.