Maui Wildfire Update – August 14 at 4 p.m.
Aloha,
Here are the latest Maui Wildfire news, updates, and resources you need to know.
99 have been confirmed dead, making this the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century.
- Hundreds are still reported missing, and Governor Josh Green said we should brace for the death toll to continue rising. Officials will begin releasing the names of the deceased tomorrow.
- As of noon today, Maui’s Police Chief said 25% of the impacted areas have been covered by cadaver dogs from FEMA’s Urban Search & Rescue Teams and that 20 dogs are now helping with the search. He hopes to have 80-95% of the area searched by the weekend.
- Firefighters are continuing to battle and monitor flare-ups across the island.
An estimated 4,500 displaced individuals are in need of housing.
- FEMA released maps showing an estimated 2,207 structures — 86% of them residences — in Lahaina were damaged or destroyed in the wind-whipped inferno, with losses approaching $6 billion.
- In the Upcountry fire, there were 544 “structures exposed” — with three buildings in Olinda and 16 in Kula destroyed — and 678 acres burned, according to officials.
Over 2,000 units — hotel rooms, AirBnbs and personal residences — are available to displaced individuals and families.
- Governor Green shared 402 hotel rooms, 1,400 AirBnbs and 160 citizens have offered housing through HHFDC. These rooms will be “free and will be covered through disaster relief funds and grants by organizations like Hawaii Community Foundation.”
- Officials reported 220 families have been temporarily housed as of the 3:30 p.m. press conference.
- The American Red Cross is working with the state, county and FEMA to make sure “everyone gets housed,” said Green.
- Housing will be provided for at least 36 weeks and will be revisited every 30 days thereafter.
Gov. Green is exploring a moratorium on sale of properties that have been damaged or destroyed by the wildfires.
- Gov. Green says these recent events will impact how the state views all development, noting that some federal laws applicable to real estate sales and construction, can be amended during times of crisis.
- He also cautioned people it will be a very long time before anything can be built in the impacted areas again.
- The state plans to invest resources to preserve and protect land for local people. Many are mourning the catastrophic loss of Hawaiian culture and history in Lahaina.
Power and communications are slowly being restored to West Maui.
- Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Co., said more than 400 utility poles have been damaged or destroyed. On Saturday, Hawaiian Electric said service was restored to about 60% of customers, including 5,500 in West Maui. Those customers include hotels, resorts, and condominiums north of Lahaina that had been without electricity since Tuesday’s high winds and wildfire.
- Hawaiian Electric has also installed a mobile substation at the Lahainaluna substation, which is expected to help restore power to customers in the neighboring subdivision, which includes homes, three schools, and county water facilities.
- Charter is providing free unlimited Spectrum WiFi access at four venues serving as community resource centers.
Officials encourage monetary contributions as response groups have been overwhelmed by the volume of physical goods flowing into Maui.
- Over 1 million pounds of supplies—food, water, baby diapers and more—have been donated, but state authorities say financial donations are the most needed now.
- Despite the volume of donations, displaced residents were still finding it difficult to find essential items like gas, ice, water, diapers, and the like. Many have turned to friends, family, and informal networks cropping up on the island to distribute supplies.
- State and local officials are recommending cash donations to reputable nonprofit organizations active in Hawaii as the public show of support from around the world continues to pour in after the devastating wildfires.
The cause of fires has not been determined.
- Questions are mounting about whether officials could have warned residents with more notice or evacuated them sooner.
- The Hawaii Attorney General has launched a comprehensive review of the emergency response to the Maui wildfires.
- The first lawsuit on behalf of those impacted by the fires has been filed against Hawaiian Electric.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team