Federal Aid Likely for Hawaii Wild Weather Damage

Hawaii Civil Defense officials are still compiling damage totals from recent days of wild weather, but preliminary figures show the state will likely qualify for federal disaster assistance.

Heavy rains flooded roads, caused sewage spills and other problems. Parts of the islands saw thunderstorms and hail. A tornado touched down in Kailua Friday.

State Civil Defense Plans and Operations Officer Vic Gustafson tells Hawaii News Now according to unofficial numbers, state damage has exceeded the threshold for assistance at about $2.6 million. Kauai County alone suffered more than $1 million.

He says private homeowners can’t qualify until the state has confirmed at least 173 homes suffered major damage. As of Monday, that figure was between 50 and 60.

Officials continue to monitor a hotline for reporting damage.