Hawaii Storms Prompts Disaster Declaration

President Barack Obama is declaring a disaster for Hawaii, a move that makes federal funds available for emergency work to fix Kauai public facilities damaged by severe storms last month.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office said in a statement Wednesday the funds may be used to repair or replace public facilities on Kauai that were damaged by floods between March 3 and March 11.

Hawaii State Civil Defense estimates the storms caused $2 million in damage to public infrastructure on Kauai. Public roads alone sustained an estimated $1.2 million in damage.

The storms also delivered hail and lightning. Weather officials recorded the first tornado to hit the state in four years after a waterspout moved ashore in Kailua on Oahu.