Trump approves emergency declaration following Tropical Cyclone Lala
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President Donald Trump has approved Hawaii's request for a presidential emergency declaration following Tropical Cyclone Lala, Gov. Josh Green announced Tuesday.
The declaration authorizes federal assistance for Maui County, Hawaii County and the City and County of Honolulu.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency may provide assistance to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
FEMA is authorized to provide Category B emergency protective measures under its Public Assistance program. The assistance is limited to direct federal aid, with the federal government covering 75% of eligible costs.
"Mahalo to President Trump, Secretary Mullin and our federal partners for acting quickly on Hawaii's request," Green said in a news release. "This approval gives us access to specialized personnel, equipment and technical support that will help protect our communities, restore essential services and address the urgent needs created by Tropical Cyclone Lala."
The state will work with FEMA and other federal agencies to deploy resources based on operational needs. Requests include:
• Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team personnel and other specialists to assist with the recovery, identification, documentation and respectful reinterment of human remains displaced at Naalehu Cemetery.
• Large-capacity emergency generators and federal technical and logistical support for critical facilities and essential services.
• Federal experts and equipment to establish microgrids or comparable temporary power systems until permanent electrical service is restored.
Tropical Cyclone Lala brought about 20 to 40 inches of rain to some areas, causing severe flooding, runoff and landslides. Initial reports indicated that hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed and roads and bridges were damaged or washed out.
Kau experienced some of the storm's most severe effects. Flooding and infrastructure damage disrupted access along Hawaii Belt Road, while extended power and communications outages affected water systems, medical access and emergency operations. A severe slope failure at Naalehu Cemetery also displaced human remains, creating an urgent cultural, public health and operational challenge.
At the height of the storm, about 200,000 customers across Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu lost power. State, county and utility crews continue working to restore services, repair infrastructure, clear debris and support affected residents.
The declaration supports immediate response operations. The governor's office said state and county teams will continue assessing damage and unmet needs to determine whether additional federal recovery assistance should be requested.