"This is one of those in-between disasters," Anna Foust, plans and operations officer with Maui Civil Defense, told The Maui News.

Kevin Richards, the coordinator of a Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center set up Tuesday at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, said the State Civil Defense Agency recognizes that many residents who experienced hardships still need help.

"The damages were there, that's for sure," Richards said. "The numbers are just not there."

State and county officials have heard from numerous residents whose homes were washed out with water, mud and debris. One home was washed off its foundation in the Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteads, while others were severely damaged by the flash flooding from the slopes above the Waiohuli-Keokea region.

Richards said the Federal Emergency Management Agency's threshold for providing assistance is a minimum of 180 to 200 homes that are either destroyed or suffer major damage. A federal and state onsite review of damage last week on Maui found there was not enough to qualify for federal funds.

"We're not even close," Richards said. He said the estimate for the entire island is about 30 homes either destroyed or with major damage.

The Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers being set up on Maui and Oahu are a means of making it easier for those who need help to connect with potential assisting agencies.

"That's what we're here for, to give people face-to-face time with as many services as we can," he said.

The Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center will move to South Maui today, at the Pacific Disaster Center in Ke Alahele Building at the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

At the center in Pukalani on Tuesday, State Civil Defense coordinator David Witten said there had been a steady flow of people seeking information and assistance through the day, with several waiting outside before the center opened at 11 a.m.

Among the residents seeking help was Kimberly Alexander, whose three-bedroom rental unit on Lepelepe Street in Kula was washed out by the muddy water and debris rushing down the slopes.

"Everything was just destroyed," Alexander recalled after meeting with officials at the disaster center on Tuesday. She said she was able to grab a few personal items but most of her family's clothing, household appliances and furniture were unsalvageable.

"Maybe a truck full of stuff was saved," Alexander said, adding that she still has to rummage through the personal belongings she had salvaged and hopes that water damage won't be too severe.

Alexander, her fiancee, Kaleo Peneku, and her three children, ages 7 to 12, have since found temporary shelter but want to rent another place Upcountry.

"I'm just hoping it won't cost me an arm and a leg," she said.

Alexander said she had previously made contact with the same agencies represented at Tuesday's center, but still found the center helpful. It brought together representatives from a range of agencies able to provide information and collect data from the residents affected by the floods.

On Tuesday, she talked with representatives of the Legal Aid Society, a personal loan company and the county Civil Defense Agency.

She said part of her challenge in finding a new rental Upcountry is getting a landlord to agree to housing her two cats, Dozer and Lola.

"I will not part with them," she said.

Alexander expressed disappointment about the lack of assistance from the federal government.

"I feel like the federal government should help us out. Regardless of how much the damage, the federal government should help out in some way, even little, because we all pay taxes," she said.

Whether or not there is direct government financial aid, Witten said the disaster center specialists can provide information that can direct a homeowner or business owner on what kind of help is available. "Anybody that has taken a loss, we can be of some assistance," he said.

Richards said Gov. Linda Lingle will file a request with the U.S. Small Business Administration for a declaration that could lead to the issuance of low-interest loans to help with repairs and losses.

Nance Garnett, a resident on Kaui Place in Kula, walked out Tuesday from the Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center with a cleanup kit from American Red Cross. The kit included a broom, a bucket and cleaning supplies.

"I still have a lot of cleanup to do," Garnett said.

That includes five tree stumps left after the trees were toppled by the powerful winds and heavy rains that came through Maui from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7.

One tree fell on the roof of her home. Garnett said she's still living in the house, but there are at least nine points where rain is leaking through.

"I have every pot and pan in the house out to catch the water. I can't seem to get help with patching up my roof," Garnett said.

She said she's still working with her home insurance company.

State Civil Defense had the help of about 12 men from the Hawaii National Guard as well as representatives of 25 agencies at Tuesday's Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center. Among the organizations represented were the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Maui Planning Department and the Department of Public Works.

Red Cross Maui County Director Mariana Matthews said she had 40 volunteers on alert just prior to the Kona storm. Once the floods and winds set in, Red Cross assisted with setting up three one-night shelters on Maui and helping families in need of basic necessities like food, clothing and bedding.

She said it's been difficult to help people emotionally and professionally because some of their needs are beyond the Red Cross's abilities.

For example, a number of families need long-term recovery help with cleanup of debris and their homes. "It's pockets of disasters," Matthews said.

She said the Red Cross is continuing to refer people to other agencies for help.

From Maui County, the center can help owners in need of permits to complete emergency structure repairs start the process with the Planning Department and/or Department of Public Works. Representatives from the two county agencies will be available today at the center in Kihei.

In addition, DPW officials are taking information on drainage issues that may have contributed to flooding and slow drainage. Ideas for mitigation of storm damage will also be accepted.

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