LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A mobile morgue unit has been deployed to assist Hawaii officials in identifying the 99 people who were confirmed killed in the devastating wildfires that swept through Maui. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a team of coroners, pathologists, and technicians, along with necessary equipment, to aid in the identification process.
Jonathan Greene, the agency’s deputy assistant secretary for response, acknowledged that the mission would be incredibly difficult due to the high number of victims. He emphasized the importance of patience during this process.
Meanwhile, survivors of the wildfires have started moving into hotel rooms that were set aside for displaced locals. Donations of food, water, ice, and other essentials have been pouring in to support those affected by the fires.
Crews, assisted by cadaver dogs, have been searching the affected areas, covering approximately 32% of the total area. Governor Josh Green has asked for patience as authorities face overwhelming requests to visit the burn area.
So far, only three bodies have been identified, and officials are expected to release the first list of names on Tuesday. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier has appealed to families with missing relatives to provide DNA samples to aid in the identification process. Currently, 41 samples have been submitted, and 13 DNA profiles have been obtained from remains.
Governor Green warned that more bodies could be found as the search continues. The wildfires, some of which are still not fully contained, are already the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century. The cause of the fires is still under investigation.
In a heartbreaking revelation, Governor Green confirmed that children are among the missing. He described some of the sites being searched as too distressing to share or see from a human perspective.
Another challenge faced by authorities is the forecast of storms with rain and high winds for the weekend. Officials are considering whether to preemptively shut down power to protect the weakened infrastructure.
A week after the fires started, some residents are still without power and reliable cellphone service. Many are uncertain about where to seek assistance. Some individuals have been walking to a seawall, where phone connections are stronger, to make calls. A single-prop airplane has been flying low off the coast, using a loudspeaker to provide information about water and supplies.
The local power utility, Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc., has faced criticism for not shutting off power during the strong winds that fueled the fires. It remains unclear whether the utility’s equipment played a role in igniting the flames.
The Lahaina fire, which destroyed nearly every building in the town, has been 85% contained, according to the county. The Upcountry fire is 60% contained.
The Lahaina fire caused approximately $3.2 billion in insured property losses, according to Karen Clark & Company, a disaster and risk modeling company. This estimate does not include damage to uninsured property. Over 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed by flames, with an additional 3,000 buildings damaged by fire or smoke.
Authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain in the area, including in drinking water, after the fires emitted poisonous fumes. This has prevented many from returning home.
The Red Cross has reported that 575 evacuees are currently spread across five shelters. Governor Green estimates that thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. To address this, 450 hotel rooms and 1,000 Airbnb rentals are being made available.
President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to visit Hawaii as soon as possible, but he does not want his presence to disrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. He has assured that all necessary resources will be provided to support the affected communities.
Over 3,000 people have registered for federal assistance, and this number is expected to increase. FEMA is providing $700 to displaced residents to cover the cost of essential supplies and is also offering coverage for the loss of homes and personal property.
The Biden administration is seeking an additional $12 billion for the government’s disaster relief fund as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress.
Governor Green expressed his gratitude for the support received from various leaders and organizations, including over 1 million pounds of food, as well as ice, water, diapers, and baby formula. The U.S. Marines, Hawaii National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and Coast Guard have all joined the aid and recovery efforts.
Kekoa Lansford, a resident of Lahaina, has been collecting stories from survivors in an effort to create a timeline of what happened during the wildfires. He has already gathered 170 stories and hopes to provide a comprehensive account of the events.Mobile Morgue Unit Arrives in Maui to Aid in Identification of Wildfire Victims
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A mobile morgue unit has been deployed to Maui to assist officials in identifying the 99 people who were confirmed killed in the devastating wildfires that swept through the area. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a team of coroners, pathologists, and technicians, along with necessary equipment, to help process remains and identify victims.
Jonathan Greene, the deputy assistant secretary for response at the agency, acknowledged that the mission would be challenging due to the high number of victims. “It’s going to be a very, very difficult mission,” Greene said. “And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims.”
As search teams continue to scour the neighborhoods reduced to ash, officials are expected to release the first list of names of the deceased. So far, only three bodies have been identified. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier urged families with missing relatives to provide DNA samples to aid in the identification process.
The wildfires, which have not yet been fully contained, have already become the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century. The cause of the fires is still under investigation.
Meanwhile, survivors of the blaze have started moving into hotel rooms that were set aside for displaced locals. Donations of food, water, and other essentials have been pouring in to support those affected by the wildfires.
Crews, assisted by cadaver dogs, have covered approximately 32% of the affected area, according to the County of Maui. However, Governor Josh Green has asked for patience as authorities are overwhelmed with requests to visit the burn area.
The governor warned that more bodies could be discovered as the search efforts intensify. He confirmed that children are among the missing, stating, “Tragically, yes. When the bodies are smaller, we know it’s a child.”
The Lahaina fire, which destroyed nearly every building in the historic town, has been 85% contained, while another blaze known as the Upcountry fire is 60% contained. The Lahaina fire alone caused an estimated $3.2 billion in insured property losses, according to disaster and risk modeling company Karen Clark & Company.
Authorities have also cautioned about the presence of toxic byproducts in the affected areas, including drinking water, after the flames emitted poisonous fumes. As a result, many residents are unable to return home.
The Red Cross reported that 575 evacuees are currently housed in five shelters, and Governor Green stated that thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. Efforts are underway to provide hotel rooms and Airbnb rentals to accommodate those affected.
President Joe Biden expressed his intention to visit Hawaii to assess the situation firsthand, but he emphasized that he does not want his presence to disrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. The Biden administration is seeking an additional $12 billion for the government’s disaster relief fund to support recovery efforts.
Numerous organizations and agencies, including the U.S. Marines, the Hawaii National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Coast Guard, have joined the aid and recovery efforts. Local resident Kekoa Lansford, who helped rescue people during the fire, is collecting stories from survivors to create a timeline of the events.
The devastation caused by the wildfires has left a lasting impact on the community. Lansford described the scene as “horrible” and compared it to “hell in the movies.” The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but with the support of various organizations and the resilience of the community, Maui will rebuild and heal.
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Associated Press journalists Bobby Caina Calvan in Kihei, Hawaii; Haven Daley in Kalapua, Hawaii; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri; and Darlene Superville and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.
Recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Perty losses, according to disaster and risk modeling company Karen Clark & Company.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, authorities have warned about the presence of toxic byproducts in the area, including in drinking water, following the release of poisonous fumes during the fires. This has prevented many residents from returning home.
While some progress has been made in containing the fires and providing assistance to survivors, challenges remain. Storms with rain and high winds are expected over the weekend, leading officials to consider preemptively shutting down power to protect the weakened infrastructure.
Efforts are also underway to address the immediate housing needs of thousands of people who have been displaced by the fires. Hotel rooms and Airbnb rentals are being made available to provide temporary accommodations.
President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to visit Hawaii and provide necessary resources to support the affected communities, but he does not want his presence to disrupt recovery and cleanup efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance to displaced residents and is seeking additional funding from Congress for
