Posted at 11:45 a.m., Monday, December 1, 2003
Disaster relief sought for Big Island
Associated Press
HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County Council Chairman James Arakaki wants to create a special fund to pay for cleanup efforts after natural disasters.Arakaki is calling for putting aside between $100,000 and $500,000 per year until the fund reaches $5 million.
The full amount could be needed just to get Big Island residents back on their feet after a major disaster, he said.
The county now allocates about $300,000 per year for removing storm debris from public roads, county Public Works Director Bruce McClure said.
Arakaki wants the county to budget for related costs, such as repairing damaged infrastructure and facilities.
The council’s Finance Committee was to hold a hearing on Arakaki’s bill tomorrow.
The Big Island is subject to damaging tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, high waves and lava inundation.
