Fire Survivor Resources

“Our committee has heard from various neighbors on Maui that they continue to face challenges relating to processing wildfire insurance claims, including home, business, vehicle, and vessel policies,” said Senator Jarett Keohokalole, Chair of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. The briefing will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Kaniau Road in Zone 1C will be the first area to be cleared for residential reentry in the Lahaina disaster area, on Monday and Tuesday next week. A vehicle pass will be required for entry, and applications will be distributed on Friday through Sunday at the Lahaina Civic Center during specified hours.

SBA disaster loans may cover losses that are not fully covered by insurance or other sources. The SBA is the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for survivors.

Council Vice-Chair Yuki Lei K. Sugimura is hosting a community meeting at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani at 6 p.m. on Sept. 20, to provide updates on water safety, wildfire-debris management and disaster recovery.

The next “Pathways to Recovery” webinar on Sept. 21 will focus on topics such as price freeze, landlord-tenant matters and other items related to consumer protection.

The University of Hawaiʻi is offering full one-year scholarships to every Lahainaluna High School senior to attend any of its 10 campuses.

The Cameron Center has launched the Laptop Relief Program, an initiative designed to close the digital gap and provide laptops to individuals and families affected by recent hardships.

The annual Youth Services sign-waving was held during Suicide Prevention Week this week. But with the recent wildfires, the Youth Services team decided to remove the word “suicide” from signs and focus on available help, specifically the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, mental health and “Lahaina Strong.”

Residents of Maui who were affected by the Aug. 8 wildfires and received an initial rental assistance from FEMA may be eligible for continued rental assistance. 

The data available have not yet been validated. As contaminants are present in dust and ash, proper precautions should be taken when in the impacted area to avoid exposure.

The Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, in collaboration with the HSBA Probate & Estate Planning Section, is offering a Pro Bono (FREE) Probate Clinic on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Nā ʻAikāne o Maui community resource hub, located outside of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at 2605 Kāʻanapali Parkway in Lahaina.

Kaiser Permanente will be consolidating its three medical first aid stations into a single West Maui location at the Royal Lahaina Resort beginning Monday, Sept. 25, 2023.  

To date, more than 320 Maui-residents have registered for the free program that will include certification classes in HAZWOPER, OSHA, CDL, and others. Orientation classes for the first 60 students begins today.

The Hawai‘i Department of Human Services will launch the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) on Sept. 18, 2023, through Sept. 23, 2023, for households directly impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires in Kula and Lahaina on Maui.

FEMA and the US Small Business Administration have approved more than $89.25 million in federal assistance to survivors of the Maui wildfires that began Aug. 8. The last day to register for Red Cross sheltering assistance is Friday, Sept. 15. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance and a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration is Tuesday, Oct. 10. Residents who lost their job as a direct result of the Maui wildfires and live or work in Maui County have until Monday, Sept. 25, to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The nonprofit Feed My Sheep organization has stepped up during the aftermath of Maui’s wildfires to provide food for those experiencing unexpected need. While the organization was already mobilized to serve households at or near the poverty line, the service extended its reach to those displaced by the Maui fires.

Families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) impacted by the Maui wildfires will now have an easier time finding infant formula and food substitutions.

Properties with inactive service should NOT flush toilets, allow water down drains even if service appears operable. Although a toilet may appear to continue to flush and water may drain initially, if the service is not active, the property will risk eventual sewage backing up within the home or business.

Effective Sept. 12, 2023, the Department of Water Supply announces that the Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula has been amended to remove Zone 1 from the affected area. Water serving homes and buildings in Zone 1 has been determined to be safe for unrestricted use. To determine if your address is in a specific zone, please refer to the interactive map at the following link:  Zone Map

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will be offering a distance learning hub for K-8 Lahaina students starting Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at Citizen Church located at 4275 Hine Way in Lahaina. The learning hub will provide distance learning students with in-person opportunities for teacher support and peer socialization, as well as access to meals, recess, social-emotional learning and other resources.  Two additional learning hubs in the works for West Maui students