Feds To Cover Some Quake, Blackout CostsState Assessing Damage, Working To Keep TouristsPOSTED: 6:38 pm HST October 18,
2006 HONOLULU -- The federal government will pay for our state and county costs in dealing with the blackout on Oahu.It is not clear whether private business and property owners will be eligible for aid.The lights went out in Oahu on Sunday and police began earning overtime directing traffic and protecting property.Private citizens and businesses also lost inventory or equipment. The federal government will pay, but not everyone."If the blackout caused damage or increased cost for infrastructure, that will be compensated. But, as far as individuals or businesses -- no," said Michael Karl of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Big Island ranches and farms depend on government-owned irrigation systems. Some are broken, but it is too hard to tell for how long."It's dangerous up there. There're still rock falls. It's hard to get there and it's really wet," state Department of Agriculture director Sandra Lee Kunimoto said.As for people's homes, most escaped undamaged. The Red Cross found none was destroyed. Only 29 are temporarily uninhabitable. More than 1,000 incurred minor damage.No one sought emergency shelter."After an extensive survey with Red Cross no one asked to be put up in hotels," said Ed Teixera of the state Civil Defense.On the tourism front, less than 1,000 tourists canceled their Hawaii trips, the state's tourism liaison said. Despite that news the state sent out an emergency worldwide video release anyway."It was only $3,000. It's not a lot of money," state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert said. Copyright 2006 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |








