#major disaster declaration

During an Appropriations Subcommittee oversight hearing on the US Department of Health and Human Services’ budget request, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured a commitment from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to support Hawaiʻi’s recovery efforts following the kona low storms that caused flooding across the state.

Gov. Josh Green has submitted a formal request to the President of the United States for a Major Disaster Declaration to support statewide recovery efforts, following two consecutive kona low storm systems that caused widespread damage across Hawaiʻi.

The deadline is Thursday, March 17, 2022, for state and local governments and private nonprofits in O‘ahu and the County of Maui to apply for federal emergency grants related to the December Kona Low storms.

The declaration, designated under FEMA disaster number 4604, triggers the release of Federal funds to help affected communities in Maui County recover from the incident which occured during the period between March 8-18, 2021.