Oahu and Kauai disaster recovery centers open

Starting today, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are opening disaster recovery centers on Oahu and Kauai to assist those affected by flooding in April. The centers will be staffed by representatives from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and state and local agencies.

Disaster recovery centers on Oahu are at Aina Haina Elementary School and Keolu Elementary School in Kailua. The Aina Haina Elementary location opens today, and the Keolu Elementary location opens Monday. Both will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with modified Fourth of July hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Kauai recovery centers are at Hanalei, Koloa and Kapaa elementary schools. The Hanalei and Koloa locations open today, and the Kapaa location opens Sunday. The Hanalei location will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The Koloa location will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and the Kapaa location will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday. Modified Fourth of July hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Those seeking assistance should bring their Social Security number, the address of their damaged primary residence, a description of the damage, insurance information, contact information and bank account information. Assistance is also available at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.

Hawaii island

Police seeking Puna man in stolen vehicle case

Big Island police are searching for a 41-year-old Puna man who evaded arrest and several rounds of police gunfire Wednesday.

Shilo Brent is believed to have been operating a stolen Toyota Tacoma that was located by police just before midnight near East Mamaki Street.

According to a Hawaii Police Department release, the Tacoma and an unidentified vehicle fled the scene as officers approached.

Police said the officers jumped aside to avoid being struck by the Tacoma, which continued toward Stainback Highway before traveling over an embankment and crashing onto a dirt road.

Police were attempting to arrest the driver when he allegedly reached for a “long, dark-colored object,” prompting one of the officers to fire approximately 11 shots as the driver escaped into the surrounding brush.

A subsequent search of the area failed to locate the suspect, and there was no blood found to indicate that he had been struck by any of the bullets fired.

Two occupants of the other vehicle that fled the initial scene approached police after the shots were fired. The driver of that vehicle, a 34-year-old Hilo man, was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangering. His passenger was allowed to leave the area on foot.

The officer who shot at the suspect has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure during the investigation of officer-involved shootings.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.