President Joe Biden will be heading to Joint Base Andrews in the near future. The White House has unveiled plans for the 46th U.S. President to visit Maui County days after a deadly wildfire swept through the state.
“In Maui, the President and First Lady will be welcomed by state and local leaders to see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Thousands of Hawaiians are grieving after a deadly wildfire swept through the island. According to multiple reports, a three-acre brush fire was ignited on the morning of August 8 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Within two hours, local officials say the fire was completely contained. However, winds from Hurricane Dora later in the day caused the previously contained fire to spread throughout the area. With the power cut off, residents of Lahaina, Hawaii say they received no text alerts and emergency sirens were not activated. Thus far, more than 110 people have been pronounced dead, more than 1,000 people remain unaccounted for and an estimated $7 billion in economic damage remains.
“No one has ever seen this that is alive today – not this size, not this number, not this volume,” Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said.
“And we’re not done.”
More than 600 federal personnel have reportedly assisted in relief efforts. FEMA has also offered “50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets and shelter supplies to [Maui] county government for distribution.” Additionally, the Biden administration plans to distribute a $700 emergency payment to families impacted by the wildfire, an offer that many have called insulting.
“They don’t give a sh*t about us,” Hawaii resident Alika Peneku told CNN after offering his home to a displaced family with an infant.
“Tourists have slept here. We had three families sleep here the first night and we fed them just as if they were local. Why wouldn’t we? But nobody came to help us.”
