Maui Wildfires: Biden promises to rebuild Maui and meet survivors as death toll reaches 115
U.S. President Joe Biden toured Hawaii on Monday (August 21) to meet the survivors and personally assess the aftermath of the catastrophic wildfires, which have claimed 115 lives in Maui. Officials estimate 850 more could still be unaccounted for.
“For as long as it takes, we’re going to be with you. The whole country will be with you” Biden promised to the survivors of one of the deadliest wildfires in American history. “We’re going to rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build,” he said, promising the people of Hawaii that “we’re with you for as long as it takes.”
The people of Maui have shown incredible courage.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 22, 2023
The country grieves with you, stands with you, and we’ll do everything possible to help you recover, rebuild, and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place. pic.twitter.com/NhLmS3jQEx
“The devastation is overwhelming,” Biden says in remarks in Lahaina, one of several stops that the president and first lady Jill Biden made during a roughly six-hour visit.
Speaking with the people who have lost family members in the wildfires, Biden reflected back to December 1972, when his first wife, Neilia, and 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car accident. “She was killed. My baby was killed,” he said.
Biden’s sons, Hunter and Beau, survived the crash. Beau Biden later died from brain cancer in 2015. The president said he recognized the pain of those who are still searching for their loved ones. “My heart goes out to you,” he said. “Our heart aches for you.”
Biden took a 20-minute aerial tour of the wildfire damage in Maui. He was joined by Hawaii Governor Josh Green and Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, and Representative Jill Tokuda.
Today, @POTUS and @FLOTUS surveyed wildfire damage on Maui and received a briefing on response efforts.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 22, 2023
This Administration will continue to ensure this community has everything the federal government can offer to heal and rebuild as fast as possible and for as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/YtueFhbUQb
The visit comes amid criticism that the response to the fire had not been sufficient. Biden’s silence for days raised eyebrows and questions as the death toll in Hawaii continued to rise due to devastating wildfires.
Death toll in Maui wildfires rises to 115
Maui officials have confirmed that the wildfire death toll has risen to 116. The windswept wildfires that scorched Maui last week were described as “the deadliest” in modern U.S. history.
“This is unprecedented,” Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said at a news conference. “No one has ever seen this that is alive today. Not this size, not this number, not this volume — and we’re not done.”
The authorities have expressed concern that around 800 people may remain unaccounted for, intensifying the already intricate task of identifying and locating the deceased.
“For generations, Lahaina’s beauty culture and rich history drew artists, musicians and visitors from around the world,” Governor Josh Green’s wife Jaime Green said. “Tragically, it took less than a single day for us to lose Lahaina in the deadliest fire our country has seen in more than a century.”
The Lahaina fire was one of four that broke out on the island on August 8. Gov. Green confirmed that the flames have destroyed at least 2,200 structures and damaged another 500, resulting in an estimated cost of about $6 billion. Nearly 86% of the burned area was residential.
A force of 40 search dogs and 470 search and rescue personnel has been dispatched. They’re racing against time to spine survivors before heavy rains move in early next week.
Locating missing or deceased individuals who are homeless presents particular challenges due to their lack of cell phones and a support network regularly checking on them.
WATCH: Aerial footage shows extensive wildfire damage in Lahaina on Maui.
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 14, 2023
We’re LIVE with the latest updates on recovery. pic.twitter.com/esnEDrmjZ2
According to officials, a total of 6,223 individuals faced homelessness in Hawaii. Among these, 4,028 were situated on Oahu, with an additional 704 residing on Maui.
Recovery Efforts
On August 21, the Biden-Harris Administration announced several actions and efforts to support the recovery of Maui following the devastating wildfires. Here are some of the major actions to support communities impacted by the Maui wildfires:
Appointment of Chief Federal Response Coordinator: President Biden appointed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton as the Chief Federal Response Coordinator for Maui. Fenton will oversee the Federal government’s long-term recovery efforts in Maui.
Federal Personnel and Assistance: More than 1,000 federal personnel are present in Maui to assist with response efforts. This includes search and rescue teams, FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams, and other experts.
Housing and Meals: The Biden-Harris Administration approved $8.2 million in assistance to over 2,700 households. FEMA provided meals, water, cots, blankets, and shelter supplies to the county government. The American Red Cross, funded by FEMA, offered temporary emergency lodging in hotels to survivors.
Disaster Funding and Support: Additional disaster funding was provided to Hawaii, with federal cost share increased from 75% to 100% for eligible expenses. Nearly 650 personnel of The Department of Defense, 140 Coast Guard members as well as several U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, DOE, and HHS were actively involved in the response efforts.
Support for Businesses and Individuals: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered low-interest disaster loans to survivors and businesses. Impacted individuals were encouraged to register for federal assistance through disasterassistance.gov or a helpline.
Food and Nutrition Assistance: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided waivers allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to purchase hot foods and offering flexibility for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants. Efforts were made to support children’s access to meals at grab ‘n go sites.
Housing and Financial Relief: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing relief from foreclosures and created housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, and assistance programs. The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provided resources to handle financial issues.
Transportation and Air Travel: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released Emergency Relief (ER) funds of $3 million to offset traffic management costs. Temporary flight restrictions were in place to aid search and rescue missions, and flexible travel policies were promoted.
