FEMA Administrator Addresses Devastating Hawaii Wildfire and Response Efforts

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell describes the devastating conditions in Maui after wildfires, which have claimed the lives of at least 96 people, making it the deadliest American wildfire in over a century. With over 300 FEMA employees on the ground, relief efforts include providing meals, water, cots, and blankets. The cost of the wildfires is estimated to be around $5.6 billion, but the true extent of the damage is still being assessed. Survivors are being transitioned from shelters to hotel rooms, and Airbnb is also working with the state to provide temporary housing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing but are hindered by hazardous conditions, and authorities are taking a methodical and culturally sensitive approach to ensure everyone is accounted for.