MEDIA RELEASE

County Council members Brenda Ford and Brittany Smart will co-host a community meeting to provide information from the Small Business Administration (Olivia Humilde), Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii (Patrick Hurney), and the Hawaii State Civil Defense on the possibilities for financial or other assistance for tsunami damage or destruction.

The meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, April 18 at Yano Hall in Captain Cook.

The recent announcement by President Barack Obama regarding a Declaration of Disaster for the state allows federal assistance only to repair county-owned and state-owned infrastructure damaged in the recent tsunami event. Such infrastructure includes roads, bridges, public buildings, and harbors, sewers, and water systems, etc.

However, some assistance is available to homeowners, renters, and business owners through the Small Business Administration, which encourages everyone who sustained damage to homes, businesses, rental property, and contents of their buildings to contact the SBA for applications. SBA may be able to help in all areas of concern.

Hurney will explain Habitat for Humanity programs to empower families with home ownership and to increase their financial assets. Additionally, some families whose houses were destroyed by the tsunami and who meet requirements may be able to qualify to have a Habitat for Humanity house built as a replacement.

Come to the meeting with your questions regarding financial and other assistance for your recovery from the tsunami.