President Declares Hawaii Disaster Following March Tsunami

Posted by Wendy Osher

Debris pushed by the power of tsunami surges became wedged in park gates and pushed over the perimeter fence at the Kanaha Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Federal disaster aid has been made available to Hawaii following the March 2011 tsunami generated by a large earthquake in Japan.

The Disaster Declaration was approved by the President and announced today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The funds will help to supplement state and local recovery efforts and will be made available to government agencies and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis.  The declaration frees up federal assistance funds for impacts on in Maui County, Hawaii County and the City and County of Honolulu.

The federal recovery operations will be overseen by Michael L. Karl, who was named Federal Coordinating Officer in the affected area.  Karl said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

(Information courtesy the Federal Emergency Management Agency)