Maui Wildfires Situation Report #5

· The fires that are still not fully contained are:

o Lahaina Fire: 2,170 acres and is 85% contained. There remain no active threats.

o Upcountry Fire: 678 acres and is 60% contained. Hot spots in gulches, forests and other hard to reach places exist which makes full containment difficult.

· The Hawaiian National Guard has two helicopters on standby for any immediate firefighting needs.

· There are now 99 confirmed fatalities with 33% of the affected areas searched:

o Four of the victims have been positively identified.

o DNA samples from family members are being requested and they can provide samples at the Family Assistance Center.

· A total of seven shelters remains open with a population of 702 people. The six shelters on Maui now have internet connections.

· Airbnb will provide free temporary stays for over 1,000 affected residents. Details are available here.

· The Governor has announced that nearly 500 affected residents have already transitioned into temporary accommodations at unaffected hotels.

· The State Department of Health (DOH) has issued a health advisory for the Lahaina area:

o Dangers to health include ash and debris that may contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals including asbestos, arsenic, and lead.

o Exposed electrical wires and other objects.

o Unstable buildings and structures may contain hazardous materials and could collapse and cause injury.

· Maui County has created an online resource informational hub. This site offers information on how to donate, volunteer, other services available and how individuals can support response and recovery efforts.

· The Hawaiian Red Cross reported the following:

o Over 270 volunteers have been deployed.

o A total of 25,000 meals and snacks have been distributed.

o They are responding to 1,300 welfare checks to assist families in locating missing loved ones.

· Infrastructure, Power Restoration and Transportation Update:

o Water testing was performed on August 14th for Lahaina and Upper Kula areas. These tests were transported to Oahu for testing by the State DOH.

o A total of 19 cellular towers remains offline. Local cellular providers have deployed 14 assets to improve cellular service in West Maui.

o The Hawaiian Electric Company (HEC) has 400 employees and 26 vehicles working to restore service.

o HEC as of August 14th have restored power to all but 2,000 of the 12,400 customers who lost power in West Maui.

o Two Temporary Flight Restrictions are in effect for Lahaina and Kula.

· More than 190 Urban Search and Rescue personnel are now deployed.

· The first Disaster Recovery Center has been opened to assist survivors in registering for Federal assistance.