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Big Island Disasters: the Big Island has had more than its share of disasters over the years, including devastating tsunami, lava flows, flooding, heavy rains, high surf, earthquakes, brush fires, air crashes, explosions and hazardous material incidents. Whatever the incident, the Red Cross has always been there, ready to help those in need. The Hawaii Red Cross provides compassionate aid to people in Hawaii who fall victim to natural and man-made disasters that occur every 2-3 days in Hawaii. The vast majority of them live in low to moderate income areas, and since over half of them do not own their homes and have no property insurance, they are truly destitute after a fire destroys their home. Statewide, we respond to an average of 140 disasters statewide, affecting over 3,300 individuals per year. On the Big Island, we provided 156 families with disaster relief in the past 3 years. A major portion of the disaster victims we serve have incomes below the Poverty Guidelines set by the U.S. Housing & Urban Development, Federal Refister, Volumes 66, 67, 68, 69. Based on family income levels and size, our records show that over half of the Big Island disaster victims we serve live below the poverty level. In FY03, 50% were below poverty level; in FY04, 73% were below poverty level; and in FY05, 39% were below poverty level. For sure, the majority of our Big Island disaster clients are the poorest of the poor, living in households ranging from 1 to 13 people. In 2003, 41.6% of our client families made less than $7,500; in 2004, 56.2% made less than $7,500 per year. According to the 2004 State of Hawaii Data Book, the bottom 16.7% of the families in Hawaii make less than $25,000. Our records for the past 3 fiscal years show that an average of 74% of our Big Island disaster clients are within that bottom category making less than $25,000 per year. In 2003, 66.6% were in this bottom category; 2004 was 80.2%; and 2005 was 52.8%. While 46.5% of Hawaii's population is low to moderate income, a study of the zip codes of our Big Island disaster clients shows that up to 75% of them live in low to moderate income areas as defined by the CRA Wiz program utilized by local financial institutions. Most Big Island disaster victims rent (not own) their apartment or home, and have no property insurance. NONPROFIT GRANT APPLICATION FISCAL YEAR 2006 - 2007 Page 3