Hawaii State Civil Defense will set up a disaster assistance and recovery center in Kona to offer help to people affected by the March 11 tsunami.

Starting Monday, the center at the Old Kona Airport Events Pavilion will be staffed by state, county and private sector crews ready to provide help and information to residents and businesses.

“I want to thank State Civil Defense for moving quickly to establish this center to assist people who suffered damage in the tsunami,” said Mayor Billy Kenoi in a statement. “This cooperative government and private-sector effort will efficiently deliver the information and assistance that our residents need for the most rapid recovery possible.”

On hand will be representatives from the Mayor’s Office in Kona, the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Public Works. A variety of state agencies have also been asked to attend, along with private organizations such as American Red Cross and Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.

State Civil Defense officials are contacting all of the people who called Aloha United Way’s 211 hotline for assistance in connection with the tsunami to invite them to visit the Disaster Assistance Recovery Center for additional information and assistance.