Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2020

State and County of Kaua’i Agencies, Private Non-Profit Organizations in the State of Hawai’i are Invited to Apply for FEMA Public Assistance

HONOLULU — Faith-based organizations, in addition to other community, volunteer, and non-profit organizations with emergency protective measure expenses and damages related to the rain event that occurred in the County of Kaua’i on March 27-28, 2020, may be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program as part of a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.

Types of organizations which provide critical services that may qualify for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) grants include:

• Private schools that provide elementary or secondary education or an institution of higher education;
• Hospitals and other medical-treatment facilities; and
• Utilities including water, sewer, and electrical systems.

Types of non-critical, essential services that may be eligible for PA grants include:

• Senior citizen and community centers or other community services;
• Food programs;
• Educational enrichment activities;
• Custodial and day care services;
• Disability residential services;
• Assisted living and low-income housing;
• Homeless shelters and rehabilitation services;  and
• Performing and community arts centers.

Only organizations with state or IRS tax exempt status may be considered. For more information about eligible essential and critical service providers, go online to https://www.fema.gov/ and reference the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide.

For the March 27-28, 2020 disaster, organizations that provide services of a non-critical, essential governmental nature are required to first apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) before being considered for a PA grant.

Interested State and County of Kaua’i agencies, and private non-profit organizations should go to HI-EMA’s webpage located at 2020 Kauai Severe Storm and Flooding or  email at [email protected].

Interested agencies are invited to view a virtual Applicant Briefing on July 31, 2020 at 9:00 am. The briefing should last about 30 minutes, followed by a question and answer period. Email [email protected] for the link to participate in the virtual Applicant Briefing.

The deadline to submit the Request for Public Assistance (RPA) is August 8, 2020.

Under the PA Program, FEMA awards grants to assist State and local governments and eligible Private Non-Profit entities with their recovery efforts.  The declaration currently provides funds for eligible emergency protective measures. The federal share of the funding is 75 percent of the eligible costs.

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Contact:

Arlina Agbayani
Public Information Officer
Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency
[email protected]