Hawaii Governor Asks Bush to Declare Oahu, Kauai Disaster

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is asking President Bush to declare Oahu and Kauai disaster areas to help the islands recover from recent heavy rains, flooding and high winds.

Lingle said on Christmas Eve, more than 500 Oahu residents had reported damage to their homes, apartments or cars.

Kauai residents also suffered more than $2.5 million in losses and damage to public facilities.

Lingle is seeking public assistance for Kauai. This would provide the state and local governments, as well as some nonprofit agencies, with federal funds to repair infrastructure damage.

For Oahu, Lingle is seeking both individual and public assistance.

Individual assistance would make additional federal funding, loans, and services available to affected residents.