Biden promises Lahaina will be rebuilt the way locals want it build "so it is still a community"

FEMA

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walked down what remains of Lahaina's Front Street.

President Biden visited the fire-ravaged Hawaiian town of Lahina and met with surviving residents and first responders after his speech. 

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walked Lahaina's historic Front Street to get a close-up view of the remains of a once-bustling town and tourist destination. He stopped to pet a cadaver dog, one of scores of specially trained canines that seek out human remains; and peered into cars abandoned as the wildfire overtook the traffic-hindered vehicles; and inspected the famous 150-year od banyan tree in Couorthouse Square.

He called the devestation as "overwhelming," in his remarks in which he offered hope and promised the federal aid to the survivors and state officials that included US Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz as well as Gov. Josh Green and other local officials.

Biden said: "It’s time it rises up for you all. It’s time to rebuild this community the way you want it built — the way you want it; so it’s still a community, not a group of beautiful homes, but a community," which drew applause from the locals who fear that developers would buy up ravaged properties and build more luxurious accomodations for outsiders.

The hosing shortage in Hawaii is one of the worst in the nation. Local workers in the tourist industry, teachers and even the first responders find it difficult to find affordable housing. People often work two or three jobs to pay the rent or mortgage.

A few blocks away from the President's visit, the sesarch for bodies continue for the 850 people still missing. The death toll of 115 is expected to rise dramatically as the cadaver dogs continue their grim search.

The emergency shelters erected immediately after the fires started are nearly all empty now. The immediate needs of the displaced families are being met. Survivors are sleeping in federally subsided hotel rooms and short-term rentals. Local disaster relief organizations are providing thousands of hot meals a day.

Although the President's 6-hour visit was welcomed, local residents have a wait-and-see attitude. They like Biden's message but they worry about the furture in the long term. Even with the federal aid, it will take years to rebuild the lost homes and infrastructure.

Dr. John Vaz, CEO of the Community Clinic of Maui, said that in the days after the fire swept across Maui, donations of food and access to transportation and transitional house have been abundant. "But I can already see that some of those local efforts are not going to be sustainable," he told media.

Marring the President's visit were reports by conservative media trying to create  political capital from the tragedy by spreading misinformation and biased headlines: Biden listening and gathering his toughts turned into "dozing," stopping to pet a dog became "insensitive and ignoring human needs," wanting not to get in the way of  emergency personnel became "ignoring Maui" and "not doing enough."

Biden declared Maui a national disaster hours after it started two weeks ago and mobilized federal resources to assist in the rescue and recovery. Federal assistance continues to pour into the island.

Earlier in Monday, Biden announced the appointment of FEMA Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton as the federal government’s Chief Federal Response Coordinator. In this role, Fenton will ensure that every federal asset is provided to help the community rebuild as fast as possible on Maui.

To further assist the community’s recovery, the Major Disaster Declaration was amended to provide additional funding to restore or rebuild disaster-damaged publicly owned facilities and the facilities of eligible private nonprofits.

More than 1,000 federal personnel are on the ground on Maui assisting residents in their greatest time of need, including more than 430 search and rescue team members and 43 canines trained to identify remains. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are going into communities to help people register for assistance.

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved over $10 million in assistance to more than 3,000 households.

Undeterred by the negative coverage, Biden continued to do what he does best: empathize and console."Just before coming here, I stood in front of a banyan tree that’s stood for 150 years. Burned, but it still stands. One resident called it a diamond in the rough of hope. Another said, 'Fire cannot reach its roots.'

"I know it’s a metaphor, but that’s you. That’s who you are. That’s Hawaii. There’s no quit in Hawaii. There’s no quit in America. There’s no quit in us if we remember, for God’s name, who we are."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Maui Fires: Death toll at 114 will likely climb; over 1000 still missing

The Maui wildfire is now the United State's deadliest fire in the last 100 years. As of Saturday morning, the death toll has risen to 114, a number certain to soar with only 55% of the burned areas still unsearched. Over 1000 people are still unaccounted for.

The meticulous search for human remains is the most important action right now says Brig. Gen. Stephen Logan, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 5-0, which is coordinating the Defense Department’s response.

“We want to be able to treat them in a dignified manner and give some closure to the families,” Logan told reporters on a call Friday afternoon.

President Biden is scheduled to visit the island Monday after he was assured by officials on the ground that his presence would not hamper the recovery efforts.

"For generations Lahaina's beauty culture and rich history drew artists, musicians and visitors from around the world," said Gov. Josh Green's wife, Jaime Kanani Green, fighting back tears. "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," said Jaime Green, whose mother is Native Hawaiian.

"Far more devastating than any material loss, is the loss of precious lives," the governor said. "Of mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons and daughters.

Before last week's wildfires turned paradise into a deadly inferno, California's Paradise Fire three years ago claimed 85 lives was the deadliest fire.

The search for human remains is a slow process. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has 20 cadaver dogs on the ground as of Aug. 19. The canines have been trained to find corpses have been brought in from the mainland. But the canines can only work in half-hour stretches before they need to take a break. FEMA announced that they might bring in an additional 20 dogs to assist in the search. 

Six forensic anthropologists with the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency are assisting in gathering and identifying human remains, the Pentagon said in a statement Friday. The group is experienced in verifying DNA from long-lost service members, many of whom died as long ago as World War II.

Maui's head of emergency management resigns

Hernan Andaya, head of Maui’s emergency management agency, has resigned, citing health reasons, Maui County said Thursday – a day after he defended not activating the island’s siren system last week.

Earlier in the week, the Filipino American said he made the decision not to using the emergency warning system. In previous emergencies, the sirens were used to warn about tsunamis. 

SCREEN CAPTURE

Hernan Andaya, Maui's director of Emergency Management, resigned his post.

“We were afraid that people would have gone 'mauka,'” Andaya said, using the Hawaiian directional term that can mean toward the mountains or inland. “If that was the case then they would have gone into the fire.”

His controversial decision caused media and officials to infer that the silent sirens for the high death toll. Despite an onslaught of criticism,  Andaya later expressed "no regret" about his decision, a statement that brought even more critical responses.

Maui officials cited health concerns as the reason for Andaya's sudden departure, but could not give any further information on Andaya's health.

Andaya's replacement will be named “as quickly as possible,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen in a press conference Thursday.

Quick Federal response

As the extent of the fires became known, Gov. Green asked President Biden to declare Maui a disaster area. Within 48 hours of the fires' start, the President announced the declaration making  the affected area eligible for federal assistance.

Republicans and their biased media have tried to turn the tragedy into a political talking point by claiming Biden was not doing enough for Maui when in reality, he ordered all Federal resources to add in the rescue and recovery effort.

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris administration's response to the Maui fires.

The President continues to marshal a whole-of-government response to the deadly Maui fires, and he has committed to delivering everything that the people of Hawaii need from the federal government as they recover from this disaster.

Over the past week, President Biden has stayed closely in touch with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Hawaii Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, as well as Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who advised that the search and recovery efforts are expected to be at a stage to allow for a visit by Biden and the First Lady slated for Monday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Biden sends aid to to Typhoon Mawar victims on Guam and Northern Marianas

Flood waters recede after a super typhoon nicks the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Hundreds of personnel from federal agencies and voluntary organizations are in Guam supporting the ongoing response and recovery efforts from Typhoon Mawar that swept through the US territory a week ago.

Since President Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Guam on Sunday, May 28, FEMA has received more than 2,700 registrations for assistance, helping survivors take the first step to jumpstart their recovery.

The typhoon hit the northern part of Guam on a week ago with winds of up to 140 mph, the National Weather Service reported, and generated waves as high as 30 ft.

Trees were uprooted, boats capsized, neighborhoods were flooded and power was cut off for a while.

Miraculously, none of the 170,000 people who live on Guam was killed or badly injured, officials said. Nearly 1,000 people were still in shelters as of Thursday.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, declared the “all clear” on Thursday evening. “We have weathered this storm, the worst has gone by,” she said in a video message to the island’s residents, who include about 10,000 US military personnel.

FEMA continues working with local, territorial, federal, nonprofit organizations and private sector partners to get essential services reopened and operational.

Guam residents can register for federal assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA App, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Residents who use a relay service, such as video relay or captioned telephone service, can give the FEMA operator the number for that service. FEMA is working with local and territorial officials to determine Disaster Recovery Center locations. Once open, survivors can visit these centers to receive one-on-one help with their disaster registration process and emergency assistance. 

Nearly 600 FEMA personnel are supporting response and recovery efforts in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with nearly 300 staff in Guam. Additional Disaster Survivors Assistance Teams staff are being deployed to Guam to help survivors register for federal assistance.

After a disaster, people want to help, but it’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need. You can find a voluntary organization to support by visiting the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster’s website at NVOAD.org. 

FEMA is coordinating with its network of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to provide support and humanitarian aid. Feeding and bottled water operations continue as needed and requested by the territory and the commonwealth officials:

• The Salvation Army began feeding operations on Monday.
• The Red Cross continues assisting with shelter and feeding operations, and are also distributing emergency supplies, including pet food at various distribution centers.
Federal, Territorial, Commonwealth and Voluntary Actions

• Survivors who are covered by insurance should file a claim with their insurance company or agent as soon as they can. Next, they should apply for FEMA disaster assistance. Survivors who are uninsured should apply for FEMA disaster assistance now. Assistance may include funding to repair or replace their homes, temporary housing resources, access to low-interest loans or other programs to help them jumpstart their recovery.
• The Guam Department of Agriculture has teams conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments with farmers. Farmers who suffered crop loss should document their losses and contact 671-300-7972-73 or email agriculture@doagguam.gov for more information.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Guam businesses and residents who were affected by Typhoon Mawar. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must first register at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• The Bank of Guam’s ATMs are back online with web and mobile banking now available. In addition, the bank announced it is automatically deferring payments on personal loans and credit cards for Guam and Rota accounts for three months. Affected customers in Saipan and Tinian may request deferment arrangements at any branch locations or by emailing consumerbanking@bankofguam.com. 
• The National Disaster Distress Helpline remains activated and anyone who has been affected by Typhoon Mawar can call 1-800-985-5990 for immediate counseling and support.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed over 135 responders including civilians, soldiers, and contractors to support temporary power, temporary roofing and debris removal missions.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is coordinating with Guam EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clean up hazardous waste and debris.
• The Guam Power Authority continues its restoration efforts, reporting more than 25% of customer demand is restored, with crews working 24-hour shifts. The authority is working to restore substation energization, which will substantially increase power to more residents.
• The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation reports that it has restored power to more than 92% of its customers on Rota, while Saipan and Tinian are fully energized.
• The Guam Waterworks Authority continues restoration efforts, reporting 50% of water systems are online serving nearly 77,000 customers and four of nine wastewater facilities are operational. The waterworks authority also delivered 6,000-gallon tanks to 10 locations. 
• More than 44% of cell towers are now operational in Guam, with 60% of cell sites operational in Rota.
• Shelters remain open in Guam with an overnight population of more than 750.
• All airports in CNMI are operational and Guam International Airport is open for all commercial carriers.
• Tankers with liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel are offshore, scheduled to be offloaded today to help with increased fuel demand throughout Guam.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed nearly 70 emergency responders including three Health and Medical Task Forces from the National Disaster Medical System that are assisting local hospitals and medical clinics.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.