| The County of Hawai‘i is coordinating with partners to expand the disaster assistance services available to residents impacted by the May 22 earthquake centered near Nāpō‘opo‘o and Hōnaunau.
The expanded services at Community Resource Centers (CRCs) will help residents apply for federal assistance, case management, and receive other help as they navigate the recovery process.
The approval of a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the earthquake opened the door to applications for financial assistance from both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for property damage that was not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursed.
Effective Sept. 14, Vibrant Hawaiʻi, FEMA and SBA will have representatives available in South Kona from Monday through Friday to answer questions and assist with applications for earthquake aid. The CRC will operate until further notice:
- Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Yano Hall, 82-6156 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook
- Friday from noon-4 p.m. at the Kealakekua branch of the Hawaii State Public Library System, 81-6619 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua
Services also will be available at pop-up locations each Saturday, with the location announced each week on the Civil Defense website and via social media:
- The first “pop-up” event will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Hau’oli Ka Mana’o Church, 89-1115 Miloli’i Road, Miloli‘i, with future locations announced each Thursday.
In addition, representatives of FEMA and SBA will be available Monday-Saturday starting Sept. 14 at the CRC in North Kona, located at Hanama Place (behind Big Island Grill), 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 101, Kailua Kona. Hours until further notice are:
- Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Additional assistance may be added to the CRCs as it becomes available.
Applications for federal assistance must be supported by documentation, reviewed and approved; assistance is not guaranteed.
FEMA Individual Assistance may cover temporary housing assistance, repairs, personal property and other expenses related to the earthquake that were not covered by insurance or other assistance.
You do not need to apply in person for FEMA and SBA assistance.
To apply for FEMA aid, you may:
- Complete an online application at https://disasterassistance.gov/.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362, available daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. HST.
- Apply in person at a CRC.
SBA offers low-interest disaster assistance loans for property damage to qualified property owners and renters, with terms of as much as 30 years to repay and no payments due for the first year. Businesses may also qualify for assistance if they sustained economic injury.
To apply:
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