More than $30M approved for those affected by eruption

HILO — More than $30 million in federal aid has been approved for people affected by the Kilauea eruption in lower Puna.

Funds come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which had approved $6.2 million in grants as of Friday, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA has approved more than $25 million in loans to residents and businesses. Most of that, about $18.4 million, went to residents.

The deadline to register with FEMA is Monday. The disaster recovery center is located at the Pahoa Community Center.

As of Thursday, 2,641 households had registered.

Businesses applying for economic injury assistance have until March 14 to apply, according to SBA.

As of Friday, there was no sign of reactivation of fissure 8 or the lava channel. Several fissures continued to steam, but geologists didn’t observe incandescence.

Lava was oozing at several points along the Kapoho Bay and Ahalanui coastlines.

Sulfur dioxide emissions are the lowest on Kilauea in 10 years.