Trump approves major disaster declaration for Hawaii County following May earthquake

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Hawaii County following a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in May.

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FEMA announced Wednesday that federal disaster assistance is now available to support recovery efforts in affected areas.

The declaration makes federal funding available to individuals and households in Hawaii County.

Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recovery.

Residents who sustained losses are advised to first file claims with their insurance providers before applying for FEMA assistance.

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Applications can be submitted online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or through the FEMA app.

FEMA named Hirokazu Toiya as the Federal Coordinating Officer for recovery operations.

The agency said additional areas could be designated later if requested by the state and supported by further damage assessments.

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