The President of the United States approved Gov. Ige’s request Thursday for individual assistance for Hawaii County residents who have lost their homes and property in the Kilauea volcanic eruption that began on May 3.

The approval, coming the day after the governor’s request, means that qualifying residents may receive assistance from the federal government’s full scope of individual assistance programs to address issues such as shelter needs, unemployment, trauma and legal matters.

On Friday, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Center will be set up at Kea‘au High School in Hilo, where county state and federal agencies will initially gather information from residents who have suffered losses.

Residents whose primary homes were destroyed or whose homes are inaccessible due to the lava flow, should register at the FEMA Disaster Relief Center for possible assistance. The agencies will review each case based on the information provided before making decisions on individual assistance.

Ige has also asked the federal government to re-consider his request for individual assistance for storm and flood victims on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.