Biden Expands Federal Aid for Hawaii as Wildfires Grip Maui
Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook helicopters perform aerial water bucket drops on the island of Maui to assist with fight of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
Washington —
President Joe Biden expanded federal aid for Hawaii on Thursday as deadly wildfires engulfed the island of Maui, and he expressed condolences for the devastation in a call with the state's governor.
Biden approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii aimed at spurring resources to allow the island to rebuild, the White House said in a statement after the fire killed at least 36 people as it swept through one resort town.
"The president's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Maui County," the White House said, although it did not cite a specific amount.
At Least 36 Dead as Wildfires Rip Through Maui
1/11This photo provided by County of Maui shows fire and smoke filling the sky from wildfires on the intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass in Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2023. (Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP)
2/11Passengers wait for delayed and canceled flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kahului Airport in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Kahului, Hawaii on Aug. 9, 2023.
3/11People line up at a police roadblock while trying to get information as they wait to get access to west Maui which has been cut off by wildfires that destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina, Aug. 9, 2023.
4/11People watch as smoke and flames fill the air from raging wildfires on Front Street in downtown Lahaina, Hawaii, on, Aug. 8, 2023.
5/11Wildfires seen near Kihei as high winds in Maui are causing multiple fires across the island, in Kahului, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
6/11Members of a Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources wildland firefighting crew on Maui battle a fire in Kula, Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2023.
7/11A view of wildfires near Kihei due to high winds in Maui from Kahului, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
8/11This combination of satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii, on June 25, 2023, left, and an overview of the same area on Aug. 9, following a wildfire that tore through the heart of the Hawaiian island. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
9/11Smoke rises from a wildfire near Pukalani, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
10/11An aerial view as smoke rises from burnt areas amidst wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, U.S., August 9, 2023, in this screenshot taken from a social media video. (Vince Carter/via Reuters)
11/11An aerial view shows damage along the coast of Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023 this screen grab obtained from social media video. (Richard Olsten/Air Maui Helicopters/via Reuters)
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In a call with Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Biden "expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property," the White House added.
The declaration will allow affected individuals to apply for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and allow business owners to apply for programs to recover from the disaster, according to the White House.
Those grants come in addition to current emergency assistance by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies, it added.
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