HONOLULU—The joint federal/state/county disaster recovery center assisting residents with the Kilauea eruption recovery will be closed on Wednesday, August 8, due to the threat posed by Hurricane Hector.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the Disaster Recovery Center at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility in Pahoa would close at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and that they would re-evaluate conditions on Thursday morning to determine if it was safe to re-open.
Island residents or businesses who suffered damage or losses as the result of the eruption have until Monday, August 13, to register for assistance with FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Survivors may also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Disaster assistance can include FEMA grants for temporary housing, home repairs and replacement, as well as low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. These loans are available to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.
Residents in the areas that could potentially be affected by Hurricane Hector should follow the direction of state and local officials. If directed to evacuate, do so or be prepared to shelter in place. Residents are encouraged to continue to monitor local radio, TV stations or official social media accounts for updated emergency information.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.