The President and First Lady will travel to Maui on Monday to meet with first responders, survivors, and federal, state, and local officials, in the wake of deadly wildfires on the island.
KCBS Radio’s Jennifer Hodges is on Maui, where she has been talking to survivors and hearing their heartbreaking stories.
One resident shared with Hodges that efforts have begun to locate the remains of those who perished in the fires, and workers have begun marking vehicles with an orange “X,” which indicates that no body was found inside.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green shared earlier this week that at least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, 86% of which were residential.
Altogether the economic impact of the fire cost an estimated $6 billion, Green shared, adding that it will take “an incredible amount of time” to recover.
Speaking with Lahaina residents Nessa Wilson and Russell Lewis, Hodges learned that not every neighborhood was destroyed, as the pair described it like a “checkerboard,” some made it, and others didn’t.
Despite the devastation, Hodges shared that neighbors are doing all they can to support one another, bringing water bottles, food, medicine, and other necessities to those in need.
Part of the reason so many are doing as much as possible to help those around them is that when they slow down, they end up focusing too much on their own situation.
“They have to be bringing supplies in, they have to be reaching out to their neighbors, because if they don’t do that, then they start focusing on their own situation. I can’t even imagine how that must feel,” Hodges said.
As Green shared earlier this week, the focus has shifted to helping the living who have had their lives uprooted.
“We can only wait and support those who are living,” Green said. “Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding.”
So far, officials have shared that more than 100 people have lost their lives as a result of the fires, and the death toll is expected to go up.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
Related
