Highlights: · Maui County has provided the following updates: o Olinda Fire is 1,081 acres and 85% contained. o Kula Fire is 202 acres and 85% contained. Maui County Fire Department crews have been extinguishing hot spots using hand crews and a helicopter. Fire activity is mostly located in hard-to-reach gulches. Flareups and reports of smoke have been well within the burn area and have not posed any threat to public safety or fire expansion. o Lahaina Fire is 2,170 acres and 90% contained. There have been no noteworthy flareups in recent days. · As of August 23rd, there are 115 confirmed fatalities: o 341 emergency responders and 50 K9s units are searching multi-story residential and commercial properties. o Maui County has released the identities of more victims. o Maui County officials issued a warning about scams related to the collection of DNA samples in the aftermath of the Maui wildfire disaster. Maui community members have received calls from individuals or organizations claiming to be with “DNA Services.” · Healthcare, Mass Care and Human Services Update: o The Kula Hospital water has been shut off and they are using a back-up water supply. o Over 2,700 individuals are sheltered at 11 hotel locations around Maui, in coordination with the American Red Cross. o The Hawaii Red Cross has distributed 103,424 meals and snacks. o The Salvation Army has served thousands of meals and provided emotional and spiritual support to survivors. o More than 600 displaced students have been re-enrolled in other public schools. · Power Restoration and Infrastructure Updates: o A total of 1,869 customers remains without power. o Four of 21 cellular sites have been restored to permanent fiber service in West Maui. · Federal Updates: o A second Disaster Recovery Center will be open on Friday, August 25th. o A total of 159 Federal law enforcement officers are supporting Maui County Police Department operations. · As of August 22nd, the ASPCA has deployed a specially trained disaster response team to assist local animal welfare groups. · On August 24th, Maui County filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Company for civil damages caused to the County’s public property and resources by the wildfire: o The lawsuit alleges that the defendants acted negligently by failing to power down their electrical equipment despite a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning on August 7th. o The lawsuit further alleges that the energized and downed power lines ignited dry fuel such as grass and brush, causing the fires. Sources: · FEMA Daily Operations Briefing, August 24th · FEMA Region 9 Twitter Page · Maui Nui Strong Facebook Page · Maui County Twitter Page · Maui County Fire Department Twitter Page · Hawaii Red Cross Twitter Page · ASPCA Facebook Page Resources Maui Nui Strong Website: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/ · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauiNuiStrong/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauinuistrong/?hl=en State of Hawaii, Maui Fires Central Information Website https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/august-2023-wildfires/ Hawaii Department of Health, Maui Fires Website https://health.hawaii.gov/mauiwildfires/ FEMA, Hawaii Wildfires https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4724 FEMA Rumor Control Website https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4724/rumor-control U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Small Business Resilience Hub https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/community-resilience-and-disaster-response/small-business-resilience-hub Monetary Donations:
· Hawaii VOAD · American Red Cross of Hawaii · Salvation Army, Hawaii · World Central Kitchen · Maui Food Bank · Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Maui Strong Fund · Maui United Way, Maui Fire and Disaster Relief Fund · Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation · Maui Humane Society · Hawaii Lions Foundation · Maui Economic Opportunity Rental Assistance Fund · IAFF Foundation, Maui Firefighters Fund · Disabled Disaster Relief Fund for the Maui Fires · Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Business Relief Fund · Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund · Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement, Kako’o Maui · Craft Emergency Response Fund · Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Cultural Heritage Sites Fund
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