State gets $11.5M for disaster relief

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved $62 million in weather-related disaster relief funds that would benefit Hawaii and other states.

The committee approved $11.5 million in disaster relief funds for Hawaii, hit by earthquakes, torrential rainstorms and flooding last year, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye announced recently.

The committee also approved another $50 million to create a national fisheries disaster relief fund to help fishermen in Hawaii and the rest of the United States hurt by natural disasters or conservation policy.

The legislation will now go before the entire Senate for consideration.

Separate from this measure, Inouye said he was confident the Federal Emergency Management Agency would provide some funding for pier restoration at Kawaihae Harbor damaged during the Oct. 15 earthquakes.