Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Thursday requested an estimated $30.6 million in federal assistance to help pay for damage caused to the Big Island by the March 11 tsunami.
Abercrombie’s office has said the surge of water caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to public and private property — including homes, businesses, hotels, boats and harbors — across all islands.
But the Big Island suffered the most damage, with county officials reporting that structural damage alone to private and public property there is expected to top $14 million.
Abercrombie’s Thursday request to the U.S. Small Business Administration is to provide low-interest disaster loans to private individuals, businesses and nonprofits on the Big Island to repair or replace materials damaged from the tsunami. Damages suffered on the other islands did not qualify for disaster loans under SBA guidelines.
His office said it is working on a request to President Barack Obama for a Presidential Disaster Declaration that would enable all Hawaii counties to recoup some of the costs of rebuilding and repairing damaged public infrastructure, such as buildings and harbors.
“These are follow-up steps to help those affected by the tsunami. When I visited places that were hard hit like the Big Island, the first step was already being done and that is the sharing of the aloha spirit and communities pulling together to take care of one another,” Abercrombie said in a statement. “We are looking at every option that may be available to provide financial assistance to those who need it.”
