Feds Chip in $2.7 Million in Wake of Hawaii Flooding

The federal government is giving $2.7 million to help the University of Hawaii recover from October’s flooding in Manoa Valley.

The money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover the deductible portion of the state’s flood insurance policy for damage to public buildings, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said.

“These funds will help make the university whole again, and will ensure it recovers quickly so that its first-class teaching and research do not suffer,” Inouye said in a release issued by his Washington office.

Just under $2 million is earmarked for Hamilton Library, with the rest of the money going to cover damage at the Biomedical Science Building.

Earlier this month, Gov. Linda Lingle signed legislation making an emergency appropriation of $47 million for flood losses suffered by the university.

Federal lawmakers have excluded nearly $40 million for flood relief and prevention at the university and the valley from the final version of an emergency spending bill. But university officials responded by saying money was already available to cover the $81 million in flood damage at the Manoa campus.

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