HOUSING & HOME REPAIRS
County Housing Agency:
Provides affordable housing programs, rental assistance, and support for residents facing housing instability.Family Life Center:
Rental Assistance for Houseless Residents.Legal Aid:
Housing and eviction assistance. Call the Landlord/Tenant Hotline at (808) 586-2634.Family Promise Hawai'i:
Housing assistance for in need families.Hawai'i Small Business Development Center:
Help with financial planning, loans, and documentation for disaster recovery.Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans: For homeowners, renters, and business owners recovering from physical disaster damage, the U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to repair or replace damaged real estate, personal property, and inventory not fully covered by insurance.
UTILITIES & REPLACING BELONGINGS
Kaua'i Economic Opportunity (KEO)
Emergency electric assistance and energy assistance programs.Child & Family Service:
Short-term financial assistance may be available for eligible families, children, and kūpuna.Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF):
Monthly cash assistance that may be used for food, housing, utilities, and other basic needs.Catholic Charities, Hawai'i Relief Program
Financial assistance for rent, utilities, vehicle payments, and other expenses after a disaster or income loss.Utility Outage & Downed Line Safety Protocol: Always treat all downed power lines, utility poles, and submerged electrical equipment as live and extremely dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed lines, report them immediately by calling 911, and check outage restoration updates through Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) at kiuc.coop or by calling (808) 246-4300.
Insurance Claim Documentation Protocols: When filing property or vehicle storm damage claims, document all losses thoroughly with high-resolution photographs and video before beginning cleanup. Save all receipts for temporary emergency lodging, emergency supplies, and contractor repairs, and request your official claim number from your insurance provider immediately.
Hawaii DCCA Insurance Division Assistance: If you encounter disputes, delays, or complicated questions regarding your homeowner, renter, or auto insurance storm claims, the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Insurance Division offers dedicated consumer assistance. Call their insurance hotline at (844) 808-3222 for professional guidance through the claims process.
Debris Removal and Separation Guidelines: When clearing storm debris from residential properties, separate vegetative debris (tree branches, leaves) from construction materials, appliances, and household hazardous waste according to county municipal collection guidelines to expedite neighborhood pickup.
HEALTH & MEDICAL
Aloha Independent Living Hawai'i:
No cost services to persons with disabilities such as independent living skills, transition, and more.Hoʻōla Lāhui Hawai'i:
Native Hawaiian Health Care System with discounted services available based on household size and income.Med-QUEST:
You may qualify for Medicaid or other government-funded health coverage.Health Insurance Marketplace:
If you do not qualify for Med-QUEST, find health insurance options through the federal marketplace.Tropic Care June 2027:
No cost healthcare services will be offered in June 2027. Visit the Department of Health's website for dates and updates at health.hawaii.gov/kauai/.Kauaʻi Ocean and Coastal Safety Advisories: Post-storm ocean conditions, strong rip currents, and compromised shorelines can remain hazardous long after severe weather clears. Check daily beach safety updates and lifeguard reports through the Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau at (808) 241-4984 before entering coastal waters.
Emergency Water Safety & Testing Advisories: Following major storms or flooding events, county water systems may be placed under advisory notices. Verify safe drinking water notices by contacting the Kauaʻi Department of Water during business hours at (808) 245-5400 (press 1) or checking real-time advisories at kauaiwater.org.
FOOD & BASIC NEEDS
Hawai'i Foodbank Kaua'i:
Find food distribution sites around the island.Mālama Kaua'i:
Find local food pantries and food assistance.SNAP:
If your household income has changed, you may qualify for food assistance. Da Bux Program allows SNAP cardholders to receive 50% off qualifying locally grown produce.Women, Infants, & Children (WIC):
Food and nutrition assistance for eligible pregnant women, infants, and young children.Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies:
Help replacing essential baby items, such as car seats, cribs/playpens, and other supplies.Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA):
Immediate disaster assistance to eligible Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.Emergency Preparedness Kit Guidelines: A resilient household emergency kit should maintain a minimum 14-day supply of non-perishable food, water (at least one gallon per person per day), essential medications, first aid supplies, battery-powered lighting, and critical documents in waterproof containers.
Kākoʻo Mai Community Relief Network: Kākoʻo Mai, an initiative created by the Hawaiian Council, provides coordinated community support, financial grants, and resource navigation for families across island communities recovering from natural disasters. Contact their support team at (808) 460-8698 or visit kakoomai.org.
JOBS & INCOME
Kaua'i American Job Center:
Job-search and employment assistance.Unemployment Insurance:
If you lost work or income because of the disaster, you may qualify for unemployment.County Economic Development Assistance for Local Businesses: The County of Kauaʻi Office of Economic Development provides local business owners with recovery guidance, economic injury support resources, and technical assistance connections to help local enterprises reopen and stabilize. Contact the office at (808) 241-4946.
Local Road Conditions & Transit Hazards: For up-to-date road closures, debris blockages, and traffic restrictions across Kauaʻi following severe weather, consult county transit updates or contact the Kauaʻi Police Department non-emergency dispatch at (808) 241-1711.
MENTAL HEALTH
Hawai'i CARES / 988:
Mental health or crisis support.Adult Mental Health Services
Evaluations, medication support, counseling, and other services for adults with serious mental illness.Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services:
Support for children and youth facing emotional or behavioral challenges, including therapy and care coordination.Local Emergency Planning Committee & Resilience Networks: The Kauaʻi Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) works alongside county departments to maintain hazard mitigation and pre-disaster recovery frameworks. Review community resilience guidelines and county emergency planning documents at kauai.gov to prepare households for future weather events.
Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) Coordination: The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency coordinates state-level disaster response, resource allocation, and multi-agency recovery frameworks in partnership with county emergency managers to ensure equitable relief across all islands.