The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency is preparing to request a federal disaster declaration following damage assessments from Hurricane Lala, with state and federal officials set to begin more extensive evaluations of affected areas.
HIEMA plans to deploy damage-assessment teams across impacted areas next week.
The agency will also work with the Hawai‘i National Guard to conduct aerial assessments to determine the storm’s effects.
“This collaborative effort will include local, state and federal agencies — and will focus on areas that experienced severe impacts from the recent storm,” HIEMA Administrator David Lopez said.
The assessments will include Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, bringing together specialists from multiple agencies to evaluate the extent of the damage and identify the needs of affected communities.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is preparing to send its own assessment teams to the islands this weekend to assist with the evaluations. The assessment process will help officials document storm-related impacts and determine whether conditions support a federal disaster declaration request.
HIEMA is encouraging residents affected by the storm to make use of available recovery resources.
“The safety and well-being of our communities are our highest priority, particularly during challenging times,” Lopez said.
“We urge all residents to stay vigilant, remain informed through our official communication channels and keep up to date with the resources available for affected individuals and households.”
Additional details can be found in the state’s emergency preparedness resources by clicking here.
