WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui County Council last week gave initial approval to withdrawing $1.7 million from the county Emergency Fund to cover recovery costs from December's Kona storm, The Maui News reported.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares has said the appropriation would pay for debris removal and other recovery efforts while the county applies for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Because the storm was declared a disaster by Gov. Linda Lingle and President George W. Bush, the county is eligible for FEMA funds, but there is no guarantee it will receive all the money it asks for.

The storm that swept across the islands Dec. 4-7 washed away homes in Kula, flooded roads and downed trees and power lines, but did not cause any deaths.

Reimbursements from FEMA would go into the county's General Fund and could be moved back into the Emergency Fund by an act of the council.

The council voted 8-0 Friday to support the appropriation on first reading; second and final reading is expected to be April 18.

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.