Hawaii Wildfires 2023 (FEMA Advisories)

As of 17-Aug-2023, FEMA has approved more than $3.8 million in assistance to 1,640 households including more than $1.57 million in initial rental assistance.

Recently Biden made additional disaster funding available to the state of Hawaii unlocking the federal government’s ability to cover all eligible expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Maui County and assistance for emergency protective measures for Hawaii County for 30 days of the governor’s choosing within the first 120 days of the disaster.

FEMA also opened a joint Disaster Recovery Center yesterday at the University of Hawaii Maui College, located at 310 W. Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii. Survivors can speak to FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations and have access to other federal and state resources from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. HST seven days a week.

Agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are all working in tandem to help support the communities impacted by this tragedy.

Key Messages

• FEMA is coordinating closely with state, local and federal partners to support continuing response efforts and to help survivors jumpstart their recovery. Federal funding under President Biden’s major disaster declaration for Hawaii will help the state recover from the wildfires affecting Hawaii and Maui counties.

• Those trying to locate family or loved ones, call the Red Cross 1-844-782-9441 or visit redcross.org/safeandwell. The Maui County Emergency Management Agency set up a Family Assistance Center at the Kahului Community Center to help families locate missing loved ones.

• FEMA encourages Maui residents impacted by the wildfires to register for disaster assistance. People can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621- 3362 or by using the FEMA App. Help may be available for temporary housing, home repairs and low-interest disaster loans.

Safety Tips for Residents & Tourists

• Residents and tourists should closely monitor and follow instructions from local officials.

• For information on what to do before, during and after a wildfire, download a free portion of USFRA's Family Preparedness ebook or visit ready.gov.

• For state and local safety information and updates, visit: hawaii.gov.

Federal, State and Voluntary Actions

• FEMA continues to work closely with state, county and federal partners to aid active response efforts and to help survivors jumpstart their recovery. More than 600 federal responders, including 250 search and rescue team members and K9 teams, are deployed in Hawaii to support residents in their greatest time of need. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are going to shelters and survivors’ homes to help people register for assistance.
• More than 5,000 survivors have registered for federal assistance and may be eligible for immediate resources such as hotel rooms or financial assistance. Survivors who have not yet registered can do so 24 hours a day by calling 800-621-3362, by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. If people use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, they need to give FEMA the number for that service.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) deployed 75 experts from the National Disaster Medical System’s Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and a Victim Identification Center team to assist Maui County with victim identification and respectfully processing human remains. ASPR also deployed a portable morgue unit to help with processing human remains.
  
• The U.S. Small Business Administration has more than 30 staff on the ground in Hawaii and are phasing in more. Survivors and businesses who register for FEMA assistance, will also be eligible for low-interest disaster loans. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must contact FEMA first. Information and details on the location of business recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved waivers which will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in Maui to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 14; raise the maximum monthly and allow certain food substitutions for those using the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program through Oct. 31; and, certain children’s food programs may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, allow parent pick up of meals, and serve meals at school sites due to the unanticipated closures.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing a 90-day relief from foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages and home equity conversion mortgages. Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately. Call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information. To learn more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners visit the FHA Disaster Relief site. HUD also released regulatory and administrative waivers to help communities accelerate their recovery. This includes funding for housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, homebuyer programs replacing disaster damaged residences, infrastructure improvements and assistance to people at risk of homelessness.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed 27 responders, 15 personnel providing virtual support and 41 contractors to assist with planning and assessments for generator installations and debris collection and removal.

• Maui County government officials are distributing food, water and other supplies at two locations in Lahaina: Gateway Center at 325 Keawe St. and Napili Plaza at 5095 Napilihau St. The Maui Humane Society has pet supplies at both locations.

• American Red Cross and Maui County continue to staff and support six shelters where food, water, hygiene kits and other essential resources are provided to survivors who are unable to return home. FEMA survivor assistance specialists are located at the shelters helping people register for federal assistance. Those affected by the fires may visit a Red Cross shelter to get a hot meal, charge their phone and access other essential support.
• More than 300 Red Cross staff are working with partners to ensure people receive help as quickly as possible and has distributed more than 28,600 meals and snacks to survivors and responded to more than 2,100 requests to help families locate missing loved ones.
• Survivors on Maui who need medication, dialysis, or access to essential healthcare can visit Rx Open for updated information on the operating status of pharmacies, dialysis centers and community health centers.

Register for Assistance

• FEMA encourages Maui County residents to register for assistance. Residents have three ways to register for assistance: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or through the FEMA App.

• Assistance will be determined by comparing recorded essential losses and serious needs to the types of assistance available within FEMA programs and services. FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. Individuals with insurance should also file a claim through their insurance company.

• Impacted businesses should visit sba.gov/disaster for federal support and more information.
• Survivors may also be approved for a one-time immediate payment of $700 for Critical Needs Assistance, one of several types of federal assistance you may be eligible to receive. Examples of other types of assistance include help with a temporary place to stay, funding home repairs, and emergency needs that insurance and other financial assistance sources may not cover.
  
• Local and national Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs) are coordinating to identify resources for unmet needs and provide emergency assistance to survivors. Those seeking to donate to the recovery efforts, can do so by visiting hawaiistatevoad.org.
• To learn more about the Hawaii Wildfires response and recovery efforts, visit fema.gov.