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Question: I am seeing quite a few appeals for donations to repair flooded homes and cars. I am not unsympathetic and want to help my neighbors, but I do have to wonder, don’t they have insurance?
Answer: A standard homeowners or renters insurance policy does not cover flood damage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As for flooded cars, many drivers don’t carry the comprehensive coverage necessary in such cases; limited collision coverage is more common.
Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters and businesses through the National Flood Insurance Program, but some people avoid the expense unless they are required to buy a policy, because the property is in a high-risk zone, for example, or as a condition of getting a mortgage, according to the FEMA, which administers NFIP.
The agency emphasizes that buying flood insurance before disaster strikes is better than seeking federal help afterward, because most federal assistance comes in the form of low-interest loans that must be repaid or disaster grants that don’t need to be repaid but rarely cover the cost of repairs.
Bottom line: If your neighbors are asking for help, they probably don’t have any or enough insurance to see them through.
Q: Are donations to GoFundMe tax deductible?
A: It depends on the particular appeal on the crowdfunding platform. Money pledged to a GoFundMe Personal campaign generally is considered a personal gift and not a tax-deductible charitable donation. Donations made to a GoFundMe Certified Charity campaign are tax deductible and will automatically generate a tax receipt, according to the company.
Certified Charity campaigns are valid for U.S. registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups and are distinguished by a “certified charity” badge that appears under the fundraiser’s name. If you don’t see the badge, it’s a personal campaign.
Q: Auwe! I went to the Hawaii Kai Satellite City Hall to renew my driver’s license, and after I got in line a lady came through and said I had to have an appointment! Since when? Of course, there were none available. What a waste of my time! — Annoyed citizen
A: Other readers called in the same complaint this week. We called the Hawaii Kai office to find out whether this was a temporary or permanent situation, but couldn’t get through; a recording said the line was busy. We followed up by email and phone with the city’s Department of Customer Services. A spokesman promised a response, which we expect to publish Thursday.
Q: How do I report a coqui frog? I live on Oahu.
A: Call the state Department of Agriculture’s statewide pest hotline at 643-PEST (7378) and press 2 once the recorded greeting begins. Or you may submit your report online, at www.643pest.org, or via smartphone (iOS and Android) using the 643-PEST mobile app.
The coqui frog, known for its loud nighttime call, has disrupted vulnerable native ecosystems, partly because this invasive species has no natural predators in Hawaii. The coqui population is widespread on Hawaii island, and people should report suspected coquis on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai, said Janelle Saneishi, a DOA spokeswoman.
Mahalo
On Friday I was in the Safeway parking lot in Hawaii Kai. I was putting my groceries in the trunk. First a woman stopped by and then a man stopped by. Both told me that there was still one of my grocery bags in the store! So I went back to the store, and sure enough, there was a bag left by the checkout. These two wonderful people saved me a lot of time and trouble. The aloha spirit is alive and well on this beautiful island. — Eileen
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
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