Kilauea eruption victims cleared of federal debt

Aug. 25--Thirty-five Kilauea eruption victims have been cleared of federal debt after they were previously told to return disaster relief funds, officials said.

The debt, representing more than $150, 000, was wiped away from the books after the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched specialists to Hawaii island earlier this month to address eligibility and other issues linked to the emergency funds.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Hawaii County assisted with the effort, along with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, which provided representation to qualified disaster aid recipients.

The agency earlier said everyone who receives disaster relief funds is told the money may be expropriated following a mandatory review and that they can appeal their cases.

FEMA sent out letters to 69 Big Island aid recipients in June, informing them that they were ineligible and asking that they return disaster relief payments.

Five applicants resolved their cases prior to the visit of specialists to the Big Island, officials said, and the remaining 64 were invited to meet with specialists to review their cases.

Among the eligibility issues addressed during the Aug. 5-9 meetings were documentation of property ownership, predisaster occupancy and duplication of assistance by insurance, officials said.

In total, 35 applicants' debts were cleared, totaling $153, 536.81, and three applicants' debts were reduced, totaling $16, 352.78, the agency said.

The four-month Lower Puna eruption destroyed 716 homes, forced the evacuation of 2, 000 residents, covered 30 miles of roads, isolated 1, 600 acres of farmland and caused damage estimated at more than $800 million.

___

(c)2019 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.