Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2020

MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR HAWAI’I AS A RESULT OF COVID-19

HONOLULU — The President of the United States has declared a major disaster for the State of Hawai’i as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This declaration, numbered FEMA-4510-DR, makes the State of Hawai’i eligible for reimbursement through the Public Assistance Program at a 75% Federal Cost Share.

The Individual Assistance (IA) Program for disaster-related emergency facilites and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMPG) for mitigation measures to reduce the risk of life are currently under review.

The Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) is already moving to support an expedited process for Public Assistance through an online application process with our State Partners, which will help with the volume of applicants from this unprecedented incident and its consequent reimbursements. Staff will be allotted for these and we are working on a request for these resources.

The Title 32 Status request is now being reviewed per FEMA Region IX, Hawai’i’s branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Title 32 Status will allow the Governor to activate the National Guard to aid with services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HI-EMA will be working with all its partners within the state, county, and private sectors to implement the various programs that fall under this major disaster declaration.

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Contact:
Arlina Agbayani
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
808-620-5423

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency
[email protected]