On March 30th, Maui (Hawaii) was struck with several wildfires that caused devastating destruction to the island. These wildfires have been reported to have taken 111 lives and destroyed over 1000 homes.
They are still being managed at the cost of thousands of firefighters and medical personnel nationwide. To top it off, the death toll is expected to rise as over 1000 people continue to be reported as missing.
Residents of Maui have grown increasingly frustrated with President Biden’s lack of recognition and response to the tragedy. While Biden and many of his Democratic colleagues have authorized the delivery of billions of dollars to Ukraine, the President has yet to grant any relief or assistance to Maui.
Where Hawaiian citizens have been left with nothing but piles of rubble and destruction, during a media interview, a resident of Lahaina, Ella Sable Tacderan, asked, “Where’s the president?” and “Aren’t we Americans, too?”
MAUI FIRE
Lahaina local questions why President Joe Biden is sending funds to Ukraine while her town has been destroyed and is in crisis. @JoeBiden
Support the people of Lahaina: https://t.co/DF9mpNeHT0
For all of our work: https://t.co/v1EvqUvcTm pic.twitter.com/w5xNPsoHtj
— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) August 19, 2023
Biden is expected to visit the island of Maui Monday, and the White House has also announced that the President has issued a “whole of government” approach to managing the fires. However, many Maui citizens question why the process wasn’t expedited sooner, as the fire crisis has been severe for just over a week.
Maui survivor breaks down on CNN:
“Where’s the president?” pic.twitter.com/5UVyN1O0zC
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) August 19, 2023
In addition to the President’s lack of response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Hawaiian Electric are now scrutinized for their role in the profound destruction photo documented throughout Maui.
Though Hawaiian Electric has allegedly long delayed repairing and modernizing its electrical grid, spending most of its available resources on establishing a green energy network.
Amid such tragedy, the citizens of Maui are hopeful that the disaster’s victims will soon obtain the relief they desperately seek. With President Biden set to visit the island this Monday, many hope that progress will be made in the multi-faceted approach to restoring the devastation that has befallen the island and its people.
