County sends disaster aid teams across island to help storm victims apply

County Civil Defense staff and volunteers fanned out across Hawaii Island on Friday, starting in Nāālehu and Pāhala, to help residents and business owners apply for federal disaster aid after the March 10 to 24 Kona low storms. The effort comes as flood, landslide and mudslide damage still sits in homes, yards, farms and storefronts, and the filing clock is already ticking: FEMA registration runs only through June 14, SBA physical-damage loan applications are due June 10, and economic-injury loan applications are due Jan. 7, 2027.

The county said the outreach will continue through the end of April with planned stops in Hilo, Puna, North Kona, South Kona and South Kohala. Mayor Kimo Alameda said the goal is to make sure every eligible resident in Hawaii County gets help, while Civil Defense administrator Talmadge Magno said agency staff and Community Emergency Response Team volunteers will help people sort out documentation and connect with the right forms, especially those who are overwhelmed by paperwork or do not have reliable internet access.

Federal aid now available under the Major Disaster Declaration approved this month covers the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii County and Maui County. FEMA said homeowners and renters with insurance should file claims first because federal aid cannot duplicate insurance benefits. Survivors can apply by phone at 1-800-621-3362, online through FEMA’s disaster assistance portal or through the FEMA app. FEMA said applicants should have contact information, the damaged home address, Social Security number, insurance details, a description of the damage and bank account and routing numbers ready if they want direct deposit, though they do not need every document in hand to start the application.

Small-business owners in Hilo now have a place to sit down with federal staff. The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a Business Recovery Center Tuesday at the Hawaii County Office of Aging, 1055 Kinoole St., Suite 101 Conference Room, Hilo 96720. The center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., walk-ins are welcome and appointments can be scheduled online.

Gov. Josh Green said the first two Kona lows caused more than $1 billion in combined damage and loss statewide. He said he authorized $175 million in state funds for immediate recovery, that affected individuals and businesses can receive a three-month extension on federal income tax filing, and that separate state filing relief is also available. Green also said business grants of $5,000 or $10,000, depending on size, were expected to follow within a week.

County officials had already urged residents to document damage, save receipts and file storm reports so priorities can be set if state or federal aid becomes available. Agricultural losses can be reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, another path that could help farmers and ranchers recover while the island works through a long cleanup.