Fire Survivor Resources

The Federal Emergency Management Administration has extended the deadline to Oct. 25 for private nonprofits and government organizations seeking public assistance funding for the Hawai‘i wildfire disaster.

Since the Maui wildfires of Aug. 8, more than $177 million in federal assistance has been approved for 6,210 households, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Three in-person meetings of the Maui Strong Support Group will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 17 in Nāpili. The meetings are hosted by Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Hawaiʻi.

Disaster area restrictions will be lifted on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 9 and 10, for owners and residents of Zones 3A, 3B and 3C. This includes parts of Wahikuli, ʻĀinakea and Fleming roads

Homeowners and renters who were affected by the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui now have until Thursday, Nov. 9, to apply for federal disaster assistance from FEMA and submit an application for a disaster loan from the US Small Business Administration. 

The Maui Economic Development Board, in partnership with the Principal Foundation, said 95 small businesses directly impacted by the Aug. 8 Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires each will receive $1,000 grants from the Maui Business Recovery Fund.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $17.3 million in funding to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health for emergency behavioral health support in the aftermath of the Maui fires.

Disaster area restrictions will be lifted on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7, for owners and residents of Zones 2A, 2B and 2F. This includes parts of Malo St., Kalani Rd., Kekai Rd., ʻĀinakea Rd., and Malanai St.

A newly-launched Host Housing Support Program will provide monthly stipends of up to $1,500 to eligible households who are providing shelter to individuals and families displaced by the Maui wildfires.

Pediatric Therapies Hawaiʻi reopened its Lahaina clinic on Monday, Oct. 2 2023. The business provides pediatric Physical and Occupational Therapy services to children in West Maui. 

More than 2,500 families had established full eligibility for non-congregate sheltering as of Monday morning, Oct. 2, up from about 2,200 on Friday, Sept. 29, the Red Cross reported.

The Maui County Council’s Disaster, Resilience, International Affairs and Planning Committee will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, to receive updates on recovery efforts in response to the August 2023 wildfires, including temporary and transitional housing.

Elected officials and community leaders  joined together on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Puʻuhonua o Nēnē, a temporary shelter, to bless the newly established facility for Maui wildfire survivors who were homeless pre-disaster.

Join the “Conversations at HMA” webinar on Oct. 2 to get the latest insights on Maui’s healthcare efforts, including, updates on the Lahaina wildfire response and discussions about behavioral health.

The state, in partnership with the nonprofit Project Vision Hawai‘i, has opened Puʻuhonua o Nēnē, a temporary shelter for Maui wildfire survivors who were experiencing homelessness before the disaster. The temporary shelter, located at the corner of Hāna Highway and Mayor Elmer F. Carvalho Way in Kahului opened on Friday, Sept. 29.

FEMA has 100 temporary vacancies on Maui and Oahu that start as 120-day appointments and may be extended up to one year. The SBA positions can be for at least a year and, in some cases, as long as seven years, some with a travel requirement.

Online applications for disaster relief financial support will begin Oct. 1, 2023, from the Maui Disaster Relief initiative by the Hawaiʻi Catholic Community Foundation, and all of Maui’s 10 Catholic churches.

Kaiser Permanente will host three, no-cost Parenting After Tragedy classes to help parents understand and address the emotional and psychological needs of their keiki following the devastating Maui wildfires.   

“From Hawaiʻi to Vermont, our nation has been hit hard by natural disasters. For those struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems, these are even darker times.  This critical legislation will expand the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program to ensure we can respond quickly when people need us most,” said Rep. Tokuda.

“I think that’s a huge consideration that needs to be in place before we open, so everybody knows what to do. I think that’s one of the problems—the one road in and one road out for our schools is systemic in the poor planning decisions which amplified the tragedy of the fires,” said Elizabeth Bowen, a teacher at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Intermediate School.