For Individuals & Homeowners

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

SNAP Replacement Benefits:

• Allows eligible households to be reimbursed for food, purchased with SNAP benefits, that was destroyed.
• Replacement amount will be based on the value of food lost, not to exceed the total monthly SNAP benefit issued to the household.
• Deadline to submit applications for replacement benefits is April 2, 2026.
• Those interested in applying should contact the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services Processing Center or by contacting the Public Assistance Information Line at (855) 643-1643.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA Individual Assistance (IA):

• Provides direct aid to individuals and households after a declared disaster.
• Assistance may include:
• Temporary housing (rent, hotel costs)
• Home repair and replacement grants
• Personal property replacement
• Disaster-related medical, dental, and funeral expenses
• Grants do not need to be repaid.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):

• Flood insurance coverage for homeowners, renters, and businesses.
• Covers structural damage and personal belongings (depending on policy).
• Claims must be filed through your insurance provider.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA):

• Provides temporary income to individuals who lost employment due to a disaster and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance.
• Includes self-employed individuals.

For Farmers & Agricultural Producers

State of Hawaiʻi

Emergency Farmer Relief Program

• Eligible farms, ranches, and agriculture businesses can apply for a one-time grant of $1,500 to cover immediate storm-related needs.

• Applicants must hold a Hawaiʻi General Excise Tax (GET) license and demonstrate losses from recent Kona Low 1 and Kona Low 2 storms.
• Key Dates:
• Applications open: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
• Priority funding for applications submitted by: Friday, March 27, 2026
• Awards announced: Week of March 30, 2026

• Operated by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) has allocated a total of $500,000 for this program.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP):

• Provides financial assistance to producers of crops not covered by federal crop insurance (e.g., fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, aquaculture, turfgrass, native forage).
• Covers losses from natural disasters that reduce yields or prevent planting.
• Coverage must be purchased before the disaster event.

Tree Assistance Program (TAP):

• Cost-share assistance to orchardists and nursery growers to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes, and vines lost due to disasters. This program covers a portion of replanting and cleanup costs.
• Eligibility requires losses exceeding 15 percent mortality.
• Producers must file an application and supporting documentation within 90 calendar days of the disaster event or of the loss becoming apparent.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP):

• Provides financial assistance to producers for losses of livestock not covered by other programs, honeybees, and farm-raised fish due to adverse weather events.
• Producers who suffered eligible losses must file a notice of loss and application for payment by March 1, 2027.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP):

• Compensates producers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality due to disasters.
• Loss must be reported within 30 days.

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP):

• Provides funding and technical assistance to rehabilitate farmland impacted by severe weather events.
• Covers debris removal, grading, fence repair, and water conservation structures.
• Hawai‘i Farm Service Agency tentatively expects this program to open for applications in April 2026.

Emergency Loan Assistance (ELA):

• Low-interest loans for producers suffering at least 30% production loss or major physical damage.

Farmers can contact their local FSA county office via phone:

Hawai‘i County (808) 933-8334

Maui County (808) 871-5500 Ext. 2

Honolulu County (808) 861-8538 Ext. 2

Kaua‘i County (808) 245-9014 Ext. 2

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP):

• Provides technical and financial assistance to help communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused natural disasters that impair a watershed.
• This program typically requires a 25% non-federal cost share.
• Communities that experienced damage from the Kona Low Storms are eligible to receive assistance through this program via local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices.

For Small Businesses & Nonprofits

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Business Physical Disaster Loans:

• Repair or replace damaged real estate, equipment, inventory, and fixtures.
• Available to businesses of all sizes and most nonprofits.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL):

• Working capital loans to help businesses meet financial obligations during recovery.
• Covers payroll, rent, utilities, and other operating expenses.

Home Disaster Loans:

• Available to homeowners and renters for uninsured losses.
• Can be used to repair or replace property and personal belongings.
• Loan amounts up to $2 million (businesses); interest rates are below market; long repayment terms available.

For Veterans

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

VA Home Loan Forbearance:

• Veterans with VA-backed mortgages may request temporary payment relief, including the ability to pause or reduce mortgage payments during the disaster recovery period.
• Contact your loan servicer as soon as possible after the disaster to ensure relief is applied promptly; early notification is strongly encouraged.

Insurance Claim Support (VALife/Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance):

• Expedited processing of claims, along with extensions for premium payments to help prevent lapses in coverage during and after a declared disaster.
• Premium grace periods may be extended during FEMA-declared disasters, but claims and inquiries should be initiated as soon as documentation is available to avoid delays.

VA Benefits Flexibility:

• Continuation of disability, pension, and other VA benefit payments even if documentation is lost or required appointments are missed due to disaster-related disruptions.
• Notify VA as soon as practicable after the disaster to restore or correct records and prevent administrative delays.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grants:

• Eligible veterans may use SAH funding for repairs or modifications if accessible or specially adapted homes are damaged in a disaster event.
• Contact VA immediately after damage occurs; funds must be used within the existing SAH award timeline, so early action is important.

Veteran-Owned Small Business Support:

• Priority access to SBA disaster loan programs and federal contracting assistance.
• Business recovery support, technical assistance, and counseling through Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs).
• SBA disaster loan applications are typically due within 30–60 days of the disaster declaration (varies by event), so applicants should apply as early as possible once assistance opens.

Last updated March 24, 2026.