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