Weekend resources available for Kauai residents
Kauai is still digging out 11 days after Hurricane Lowell, and more help is opening up this weekend — good news for residents who lost homes, jobs, or access to food.
- The county has finished 880 damage assessments: 18 homes destroyed and 100 more with major damage.
- Hurricane resource centers in Hanalei and Koloa are open daily, with county and state agencies plus volunteer groups on hand to help residents apply for assistance.
- Starting Monday, officials at those centers will help people file state unemployment insurance claims and answer other job-related questions.
- A food distribution center has opened at a church in the Koloa area, backed by grassroots hubs across the island handing out food and produce.
- Community volunteers are gathering this weekend to start cleaning up a badly damaged park at Poipu that was hit by storm surge.
Outlook: Damage totals will likely keep rising as assessments continue, and recovery help should expand next week as more state services come online at the resource centers.