WASHINGTON (CN) — President Joe Biden will travel to Hawaii next week to meet with first responders, local officials and survivors of recent deadly wildfires.
The White House announced Biden’s trip Wednesday as first responders continue to fight the blaze that has killed at least 106 people on the island of Maui.
It's a death toll that will likely rise as cadaver dogs have scoured only about 30% of the burn area. Federal officials sent a mobile morgue unit with coroners, pathologists and technicians to help identify the dead.
Thousands of survivors are staying in shelters, communication and electricity services remain poor, and water supplies in many areas are contaminated by the fire.
“Dozens of federal departments and agencies have been working with state and local partners on the ground to assess ongoing needs and provide resources and personnel to support the response,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.
Officials haven’t determined the cause of the blaze that swept through Lahaina on Aug. 7, destroying nearly every building in the town of 13,000 people and causing more than $3.2 billion in damage. While that fire is about 85% contained, another blaze on the island called the Upcountry fire is 75% contained.
Biden said Tuesday that he quickly approved Governor Josh Green’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration, which means “whatever you need, you’re going to get” from the federal government.
“That will get aid into the hands of people who desperately need it — who have lost their loved ones, who have lost their homes, their livelihoods,” the president said at an event in Milwaukee.
Biden's visit comes as government officials face mounting criticism over their response to the blaze and recovery efforts.
Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, fended off criticism over the adequacy of a particular part of the government’s response, which authorizes one-time payments of $700 per household. She said the Critical Needs Assistance program is meant as a quick fix, while other programs support losses of homes, vehicles and other basic needs.
“It’s to support some of their very basic initial needs,” she said.
Officials said the White House feels the rescue and recovery effort will be advanced enough for the president’s visit to cause minimal disruptions.
“It will not be completed,” Criswell said, “but it will be in an area where he will not be impacting that.”
Follow @TheNolanStout
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
