Posted on: Thursday, April 7, 2005

Senate panel approves flood relief

Advertiser Staff

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a nearly $40 million emergency supplemental funding bill to help the University of Hawai'i at Manoa recover from the massive flooding last October, according to Sen. Dan Inouye's office.

Inouye said $23 million is earmarked for replacement costs not covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and flood insurance.

An additional $16.8 million will be used for future flood damage mitigation at Manoa Stream and watershed near the residential area and campus.

Altogether, $70.4 million in federal funds have been allocated to help with the flood recovery effort, he said.

"The funding is essential for the recovery of the university, which is the intellectual lifeblood that nurtures our community and Hawai'i's future leaders," Inouye said.

The latest flood-damage estimates at UH range to $100 million or more when the building, contents and intellectual property losses are added together.

The appropriations bill now goes before the full Senate for consideration.