President Barack Obama today declared that “a major disaster exists” in Hawaii and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by Tropical Storm Iselle Aug. 7-9.

According to a press release from the White House, “federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Iselle in the counties of Hawaii and Maui.”

Volunteers unload ice at the Nanawale Community Center in Puna during a visit from Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the Department of Homeland Security, named Kenneth K. Suiso as federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said “additional designations may be made at a later date” if requested by the state “and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.”

Obama’s action concerns what is known as a Public Assistance Disaster Declaration, according to the administration.

FEMA rejected Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s request for a Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance late last month, saying damage by Iselle was not significant enough to qualify for a disaster declaration. At the urging of Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, Abercrombie appealed the decision.

The administration says the state and Hawaii County “continue to gather sufficient additional information to justify a successful appeal.”

Abercrombie issued this statement today about Obama’s action on the Public Assistance Disaster Declaration:

“We are working together to support the County of Hawaii’s needs to prepare for another possible disaster as a lava flow threatens to impact and isolate several communities in the Puna District.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also issued a statement today praising the disaster declaration.

“The President’s decision to issue a Federal Disaster Declaration in the wake of Hurricane Iselle is very good news for the people of Hawaiʻi Island,” she said. “Last month, I visited Puna to get a firsthand look at the hurricane’s destruction and heard from hundreds of residents seeking assistance. I inspected homes with FEMA and it was clear that the extent of the damage necessitated federal assistance.”

UPDATE: “This is great news for the thousands of people in Puna who were affected by Iselle,” U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in a joint press release with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. “This federal assistance is critical to supporting our communities’ ongoing recovery. I thank President Obama for recognizing the critical needs of the many families still rebuilding in Puna.”

Said Hirono, “Families and the community continue to rebuild after Tropical Storm Iselle hit over a month ago and much of the damage to our farms and homes will take many years to rebuild. Similar to how our communities came together during the disaster, we’ll continue to come together during recovery. I look forward to the ongoing work with my colleagues in our joint effort to help ensure people get the resources they need to rebuild.”

(Note: An earlier version of this story misattributed the senators’ comments.)