Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Statement on Approval of FEMA, Workforce Assistance for Kaua'i

Statement

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the statement below following the announcements that Kaua"i and Oʻahu will receive federal support through the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) to assist with ongoing recovery efforts from record breaking floods, landslides, and more in April 2018.

FEMA announced today that the President approved Individual Assistance for Kaua"i and Windward Oʻahu to provide temporary housing, home repair assistance, medical care, transportation services, child care, and more for those affected. DOL also announced the approval of $500,000.00 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant for the Hawai"i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide for the immediate creation of disaster relief employment of approximately 200 eligible individuals to assist with the clean-up efforts resulting from the storms.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said: "Two months after historic flooding and landslides hit our islands, this relief could not come quickly enough as our Kaua"i and Windward Oʻahu communities are still dealing with the impact of these disasters. 532 homes were damaged or destroyed, farms and local businesses were completely wiped out, roads remain closed, and residents of Wainiha and Haena still have limited access to their communities. The road to recovery is just beginning, and this FEMA assistance is critical to supporting the short and long term needs of those who lost so much. Multiple Disaster Recovery Centers will be opened quickly on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu to service our residents."

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