Officials in Hawaii admit that it was “impossible” to warn residents quickly enough and that an estimated 1,000 people are missing as a result of the devastating wildfires.
With a current death toll of 67 people, vast areas of the island of Maui decimated, and the historic town of Lahaina in ruins, Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued a warning that the death toll will rise as first responders reach areas of the island that had previously been inaccessible due to numerous ongoing fires.
Governor Green declared at a news conference on Thursday, “We are seeing the loss of life.” “Death will continue to occur,” he went on to say that the fires were the “greatest emergency we’ve seen in decades.”
Despite an estimate of 1,000 missing people, Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier stated, “Honestly, we don’t know.”
“This does not indicate that is how many days have passed since we last counted. I’m not suggesting that amount at all,” he said at a news conference on Thursday. However, unless we improve some of the fundamentals, we won’t have that number because we can’t contact them and they can’t access the greater valley as quickly or as much as we’d want since they’re in shelter.
Authorities indicate that Lahaina, a vacation community of approximately 13,000 residents on Maui’s northwest coast, has been completely wrecked and that internet, water, and power remain unavailable.
In answer to a question about how many buildings had burned down in old Lahaina, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen replied, “I’m telling you, none of it’s there.” Fire has completely destroyed everything.
Ventura went on to claim that because the fire spread so quickly from the brush to the neighborhoods, it was “physically impossible” to reach the emergency management groups in time.
Mayor Bissen told NBC’s TODAY on Friday, “The fires came up so quickly and they spread so fast.” “I believe that this was an impossible circumstance.”
“The wind gusted to 80 miles per hour.” He claimed that some lived between 45 and 60 or 65 years. “Everything happened in a flash. I can’t say whether or not the sirens were heard, but I am aware of how quickly the fires started and spread.”
Police Chief Pelletier reacted to queries about the warning system on Thursday, emphasizing that “nobody saw this coming, period.”
According to Gov. Green, the tragedy was especially difficult to forecast because it “came in the night with high winds,” and the state lacked both money and men to tackle the flames. According to multiple sources, there are approximately 65 firemen operating in Maui County at any given time, with responsibility for putting out fires on three islands.
Green stated, “Climate change is here, and it is having an impact on the islands, and I think that’s what you’re seeing with this fire.”
Hawaiian Electric posted the following message on X, formerly known as Twitter, to coordinate with local and state emergency response efforts in Maui: “Crews geared up this morning to continue work in safely accessible areas to assess the damage and make repairs in Upcountry and West Maui. Hawaiian Electric has sent equipment and staff from Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Hawaii Island, and Oahu to assist in restoration work.”
Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui are being urged to prepare for extended power outages that could last “several weeks.”
County officials are encouraging citizens to practice patience and obey local safety recommendations while search and rescue operations begin with assistance from FEMA troops.
“I know you people don’t have some of the goods, you don’t have power,” Pelletier said. However, we must acknowledge the fact that we have family members in this world and act morally in order to extract them. That will take some time.
There are presently three active flames on the island of Maui, and the current weather pattern suggests that fires could spread quickly. He recommended everyone to avoid the burn zone since it still poses a safety risk, especially with the downed telephone poles.
The American Red Cross has resources to help with reuniting family members. The Red Cross Emergency App has also been updated to notify relatives and friends that you are safe.
The following charities are accepting donations to help persons affected by the wildfires:
The Hawaii Office of the Governor referred donors to the Hawaii Community Foundation to aid areas affected by the Maui wildfires.
The Maui Mutual Aid Fund is a volunteer-run organization that accepts donations to assist Maui families, senior persons, people with disabilities, and those with little to no insurance.
The Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division of The Salvation Army is accepting donations to assist buy food for persons residing in emergency shelters on the island of Maui.
The Maui Relief Fund was formed by Aloha United Way, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Honolulu, to assist those affected by the fires.
Despite having staff on the ground assisting those in need, the Maui Food Bank is accepting donations to aid with relief efforts.
Together Rising: Kerry Washington encouraged her supporters to donate to this charity, which guarantees that every “penny [they] receive will go to urgent relief and vital support.”
