Outreach campaign launched to help Big Island residents apply for federal storm assistance

Staff from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency and volunteers will visit communities across Hawai‘i Island in the next week to provide help for residents and business owners applying for federal assistance to recover from the recent Kona low storms.

The outreach campaign will start Friday, April 24, with visits to Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala to answer questions and assist with applications for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to a news release from Hawai‘i County.

Additional stops are planned in Hilo, Puna, North and South Kona, and South Kohala through the end of April.

The full schedule for the first week is listed below, and additional visits are planned before the June deadline for applications. Eligible applicants can also submit applications online or by phone for FEMA or SBA assistance, and SBA also opened an in-person Business Recovery Center in Hilo on April 21.

“The window to apply for assistance is only open for a few weeks,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We want to make sure everyone in Hawai‘i County who is eligible gets the help they need. If you had trouble applying for assistance online or by phone – or you just aren’t sure how to get started – Civil Defense will be there to help.”

Financial assistance is being offered through partial expense reimbursement or low-interest loans under a federal Major Disaster Declaration approved this month by President Donald Trump. The declaration applies to areas of Hawai‘i affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred March 10-24.

“These assistance programs have their own rules and require certain kinds of documentation to prove that losses are eligible, which can be confusing to navigate,” said Talmadge Magno, Civil Defense administrator. “Our staff and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers will be out in the community to answer your questions or connect you with someone who can answer them.”

For FEMA assistance (residents): The registration deadline is June 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

For SBA assistance (residents and businesses): Physical damage loan application deadline is June 10, 2026. Economic injury loan application deadline is Jan. 7, 2027. Apply online at https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=HI-20010, call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

You may also visit the SBA Business Recovery Center at 1055 Kinoʻole St., Hilo, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

For additional information and resources, visit the Civil Defense disaster recovery website at https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/disaster-recovery.

Upcoming Civil Defense community visits:

• Friday, April 24: Nā’ālehu Farmers Market, 95-5572 Mamalahoa Highway, Nā‘ālehu; 10 a.m.-noon.
• Friday, April 24: Pāhala Community Center, 96 Kamani St., Pāhala; 12:30-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25: Old Airport Events Pavilion, 75-5500 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26: Volcano Cooper Center, 19-4030 Wright Road, Volcano, 6-10 a.m.
• Sunday, April 26: Maku‘u Farmers Market, 15-2131 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road, Pāhoa, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Monday, April 27: SBA Business Recovery Center, Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kinoʻole Street, Hilo, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Tuesday, April 28: Ocean View-Kahuku Park, 92-8598 Paradise Pkwy, Ocean View, 9:30-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 29: Kona Gospel Chapel, 81-1037 Nani Kupuna Place, Kealakekua, 10-11 a.m.
• Thursday, April 30: Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, 9 a.m.-noon.