FEMA offers broader assistance for lava costs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency expanded its public assistance program for the June 27 lava flow to include debris removal and infrastructure repairs, the agency announced Wednesday.

That move amends President Barack Obama’s disaster declaration from Nov. 3 and allows Hawaii County to seek reimbursement for the cost of reopening the Pahoa solid waste transfer station.

The initial declaration was limited to emergency protective measures, such as county overtime and the cost of building alternate routes for lower Puna in case the flow severed Highway 130.

So far, FEMA has allocated $251,241 for county overtime costs associated with disaster response and is still reviewing other applications for assistance.

Those funds are first distributed to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency as the grantee. Once approved by the state agency, those funds will then be distributed to the county.

Construction of the alternate routes are the big-ticket items. The County Council approved a $20 million bond mainly to cover those projects.

The Pahoa transfer station, which was partially inundated with lava last November, reopened Sunday. It closed Oct. 24.

The total cost of reopening the $3.95 million facility is not yet known because water and electricity still needs to be reconnected, said Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, county Department of Environmental Management director. She estimated it could be around $100,000.

Leithead Todd said the department also plans to treat the facility for little fire ants after discovering them during the reopening process.

FEMA, which reimburses 75 percent of eligible costs, received 12 applications for aid in response to the lava flow.

Those include requests from four county departments, four state agencies, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, Parents and Children Together, Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School, and Puna Community Medical Center.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.