Abercrombie to Visit Damaged Areas, Tsunami Recovery Estimated at Tens of Million of Dollars

By Wendy Osher

Debris washed up on Puunene Avenue fronting the Kahului branch of American Savings Bank on Friday, March 11, 2011. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Governor Neil Abercrombie tomorrow, will visit areas damaged by the tsunami that swept through the islands last week.

The governor signed a supplementary proclamation yesterday, expanding the initial Disaster Proclamation he issued on Friday.  The document is the first step in the process of seeking and receiving federal funds for recovery efforts.

The administration is exploring a variety of opportunities in an attempt to obtain recovery funds, including options to apply for recovery loans through the Small Business Administration.

Teams from State Civil Defense and the Department of Land and Natural Resources continue to assess affected areas including:

• Oahu: Haleiwa, Keehi Lagoon
• Hawaii: Honokohau Harbor, Milolii, Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua
• Maui: Kahului, Kihei, Spreckelsville and
• Molokai: Kamalo

These locations have damage to government facilities, private businesses and residential property.  The combined damage is estimated at Tens of  Millions of dollars.  Officials from the governor’s office say that estimate is expected to climb as seismic assessments have yet to be made.

The tsunami was the result of a large magnitude earthquake that shook Japan at 7:46 p.m. HST on March 10, 2011.  A series of tsunami waves began impacting Hawaii shorelines early Friday morning on March, 12, 2011.