Green seeks federal emergency declaration following Lala
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Gov. Josh Green has asked the White House to issue a presidential emergency declaration for Hawaii following Hurricane Lala.
The request, signed Saturday, covers Maui County, Hawaii County and the city and county of Honolulu. The governor's request seeks federal assistance to protect public health and safety, maintain essential services and support communities.
"Hurricane Lala caused severe damage across our state and placed an extraordinary strain on communities already recovering from previous disasters," Green said in a news release. "I have been in direct contact with the White House and Cabinet officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, to advocate for the urgent assistance Hawaii needs. We are asking for specialized federal resources to protect our communities, care for our people and keep essential services operating while another storm approaches."
Lala brought an estimated 20 to 40 inches of rain to some areas, causing flooding, landslides, power outages and damage to homes, roads and bridges. At the storm's peak, about 200,000 customers across Maui, Hawaii Island and Oahu lost power. The rural Kau District on Hawaii Island experienced some of the most severe impacts.
The requested assistance includes emergency generators and federal personnel, equipment and technical support for critical facilities, temporary power systems and the recovery and reinterment of human remains dislodged by a slope failure at Naalehu Cemetery.
The request notes that state and county personnel have conducted search-and-rescue operations, opened shelters, cleared debris, restored emergency access, assessed infrastructure and coordinated with nonprofit, utility and private-sector partners.
Hawaii is also continuing recovery work related to the Kona low storms and the magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck the Kona region in May.