Fire Survivor Resources

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 23 are posted HERE. Today, consolidation is underway at county-run distribution supply sites. The phased reopening of King Kekaulike High School is underway. Eight more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. A second mobile substation has been energized in Lahaina, with 1,800 still without power.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services reminds the public that the Airbnb registration will continue Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 through Friday, Aug. 25, 2023 at the Lahaina Gateway Center. The registration area is located next to the Kaiser Permanente tents.

County of Maui-facilitated distribution sites will be transitioning locations, times, days and focus, according to an announcement released on Tuesday evening. The sites offer food, water and supplies to people impacted by Maui wildfires. 

The County of Maui is urging residents in a number of Upcountry areas, including Upper Kula and Kēōkea, to stop using tap water, effective immediately, while an unsafe water advisory remains in effect. Several structures in the Upper Kula area were destroyed by the Kula wildfire, causing the water system in the area to lose pressure. The loss of pressure may have allowed harmful contaminants, including benzene and other volatile organic chemicals, to enter the water system.

Heavy rainfall after a wildfire can greatly increase the risks of other dangers such as flash floods, debris flows, landslides and rockfalls. DOH reminds the public to avoid storm drainage and natural drainage channels due to rapid flowing waters.

The objective of HHFDCʻs Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Program is: Connect those with available living arrangements with displaced residents. While it is hoped that property owners will charge minimal or no rent, it is up to the owners and residents to agree on rents and other terms as part of standard rental agreements.

The Internal Revenue Service announced today, victims of wildfires in parts of Hawaiʻi that began on Aug. 8, 2023, now have until Feb. 15, 2024, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

As of Sunday morning, Aug. 20, approximately 1,800 individuals are reported to be sheltered at six hotel locations around Maui, with the American Red Cross and volunteers assisting with the transition from congregate shelters to hotels. Displaced individuals still at congregate shelters has dwindled to just 16 people.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 20 are available HERE. The public is reminded that the Lahaina Gateway distribution center for food, water and supplies, and the Wailuku Donation Center at the Queen Kaʻahumanu shopping center are closed on Sunday, Aug. 20. Both will resume operations on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.

The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United encourages all food producers impacted by fire, severe winds and loss of markets due to the 2023 Maui fires and disaster to complete the Maui Producer Impact & Support Survey.

Kaiser Permanente will permanently close two mobile first aid stations on Sunday: at the War Memorial Gym at 8 a.m. and and Nāpili Plaza at 4 p.m.

Today, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has opened the Maui Relief Storage Facility, a coordinated donation management center on Oʻahu to receive, sort and inventory donations collected for Maui residents impacted by the wildfires and store them until they are ready to be transported and received on Maui.

The Maui County Department of Environmental Management is offering mobile waste and hygiene facilities to support grassroots resource locations.

Maui residents in need of disaster assistance or who suffered the loss of personal documents during the Maui wildfires can seek help from a number of federal agencies at a resource fair on Saturday hosted by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has released a comprehensive guide to help individuals, workers, veterans and small businesses impacted by the Maui fires access federal resources and programs made available through President Biden’s disaster declaration.

Maui United Way has activated its Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to individuals directly impacted by the disaster.

An unsafe water notice is still in effect for fire affected areas Upcountry and in parts of Lahaina.  Water sampling will continue today Aug. 18 and Sunday Aug. 20. Water testing will continue for some time to ensure it is safe for drinking. Testing will continue for some time to ensure drinking water is safe.

Those applying for assistance can speak to FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations, and have access to other federal and state resources. Those applying for assistance can speak to FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations, and have access to other federal and state resources.  The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open at UHMC seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you sustained physical damage to your business of any size, you may be eligible for up to $2 million in Business Physical Disaster Loans for the repair or replacement of real estate, inventories, machinery, equipment and all other physical losses.  If you are a homeowner or renter, FEMA may refer you to the SBA to apply for low-interest loans to replace or repair disaster-damaged real estate and personal property including automobiles.

Maui residents affected by the fires can speak to representatives from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services at FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, 310 W. Kaʻahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii.