Updated 1:53 p.m. EST — On Thursday, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii following the devastating wildfires that have torn across parts of the island of Maui.
Along with the declaration, the White House shared that Biden has “ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires.”
The president has also been discussing the situation with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and what the disaster declaration will do for those in need.
Assistance will include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover property losses that are not insured, and more.
“President Biden confirmed he signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaii that will deliver additional federal resources and support on top of the actions already underway by FEMA, the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal agencies to support the emergency response,” the statement added.
The White House also shared in its statement that Biden “expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property” while speaking with Green.
Green shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that his administration had been working all night with the White House to get the “much needed relief for our communities.”
Original story — As fires continue to rip through the island of Maui, local officials have shared that the death toll has now risen to 36, with thousands fleeing for safety.
A statement from Miami County on Thursday shared that the bodies had been discovered during firefighting efforts. Details surrounding the deaths were not made available at this time.
Efforts to extinguish the flames have been ongoing since yesterday, and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara shared Wednesday night that more than 150,000 gallons of water have been used so far.
The fire was partially caused by high winds from Hurricane Dora and dry conditions. The winds were so strong, they even delayed efforts to fight the flames, as firefighter helicopters were unable to operate in the 85-mile-per-hour winds, Hara said.
Despite the tragedy on Maui, Hawaiian officials have shared that the other islands are not being affected by the flames.
“What happened in western Maui is devastating. It’s really, really sad, and our prayers go out to the families. But I also want people to know who are traveling to Hawaii and who are already here, the rest of Hawaii is open,” Jimmy Tokioka, the director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for the state, said during a news conference Thursday.
So far, more than 11,000 people have been evacuated from Maui.
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