Categorized | Government, News, Tsunami

President Obama signs Hawaii disaster declaration

MEDIA RELEASE

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew and Rob Nabors, Director of Legislative Affairs. (Office White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew and Rob Nabors, Director of Legislative Affairs. (Office White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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 struck by tsunami waves on March 11, 2011.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the tsunami waves in Hawaii County, Maui County, and the City and County of Honolulu.

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

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael L. Karl 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.

From Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s Office:

President Barack Obama declared the damage sustained from the March 11, 2011 tsunami a major disaster, which enables the State of Hawai’i to receive federal funding for repairs, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced.

President Obama this morning approved Abercrombie’s March 25 request for the federal disaster declaration. A series of joint damage assessments conducted by federal, state, and local teams determined that regions of Hawaii County, Maui County, and Oahu met the criteria for supplemental federal disaster assistance.

Last month, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz visited federal stakeholders in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Hawaii.

“President Obama’s disaster declaration enables the State to make the necessary repairs to our small boat harbors and other public facilities damaged from the tsunami,” Abercrombie said. “We have been working quickly and collaboratively to help those affected by the tsunami. This declaration from the President will help us in rebuilding our state and moving forward.”

The Major Disaster Declaration will provide 75 percent matching funds for repair or replacement of public infrastructure and not-for-profit facilities in the qualifying counties. The disaster declaration also provides hazard mitigation grant funds statewide.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending a team to establish a Joint Field Office in the islands. Residents who would like more information about tsunami recovery assistance can call 2-1-1.

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