The joint federal/state/county Disaster Recovery Center assisting residents with the Kilauea eruption recovery will be closed Thursday (Aug. 23) because of the threat posed by Hurricane Lane.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the center at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility will close at noon today. Officials will re-evaluate conditions Friday morning to determine if it is safe to re-open.
Residents in the areas that could potentially be affected by Hurricane Lane 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.
Island residents or businesses who suffered damage or losses as the result of the eruption in lower Puna have until Sept. 12 to register for assistance with FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Those impacted also can 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 can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are available 7 a.m.-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 Small Business Administration. These loans are available to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recovery assistance programs.
Sept. 12 also is the deadline to file a loan application for physical damages with the SBA. Applicants can apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants can call SBA’s customer service center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information about SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 800-877-8339.