President Joe Biden landed on Maui Monday to apply the wear and restoration from devastating wildfires at the Hawaiian island that began previous this month.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived round 11:20 a.m. native time and greeted Gov. Josh Green with hugs after exiting Air Force One.
A White House spokesperson mentioned forward in their arrival that it might be an “emotional day” as they meet with households, first responders and native officers.
The aftermath of a wildfire is visual in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 17, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP, FILE
“He’ll meet with parents who’ve lost children and children who lost parents and first responders who saved other’s homes while their own burned to the ground,” White House primary deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton mentioned throughout a bunch with newshounds on Air Force One previous within the day. “So, I think it’s going to be an emotional day for everyone.”
President Biden were criticized through conservatives for what they contended was once his relative silence at the crisis, which officers say has killed greater than 110 other folks.
Last week, alternatively, the president vowed the government’s help to Hawaii can be steady.
“We will be there in Maui as long as it takes,” Biden mentioned whilst in Milwaukee for an unrelated tournament. “As long as it takes. And I mean that sincerely.”
Dalton has additionally driven again at the detractors, announcing Biden has been “engaged and committed” during the last two weeks responding to the disaster.
President Joe Biden greets Jaime Green, spouse of Gov. Josh Green, as first lady Jill Biden hugs Hawaii Gov. Josh Green upon arrival on Air Force One to obtain a briefing at the devastating Maui wildfires and the continued restoration efforts, Aug. 21, 2023, in Kahului, Hawaii.
Evan Vucci/AP
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned Monday her company had dispensed over $8.5 million to citizens of Maui, with $3.6 million of that being for direct condominium help for 8,000 households that experience registered for help.
“We continue to have more than 1,000 federal responders on the ground and this is from dozens of federal agencies, departments and agencies,” she informed newshounds. “There are 16 people that remain in shelters and we have close to 2,000 people that we have already moved into hotel rooms.”
Criswell mentioned officers would get an replace in a while Monday on what Hawaii officers consider would be the estimated time to end looking out the remainder constructions in Maui. She joined the Bidens on their excursion together with Green, Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and Rep. Jill Tokuda.
Approximately 85% of the hunt space in Maui has been finished, in accordance to officers.
FEMA has additionally made to be had greater than 50,000 foods, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets and safe haven provides to the county govt for distribution.
President Joe Biden waves whilst boarding Air Force One at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada, Aug. 21, 2023, as he departs for Hawaii.
Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Images
In an look on on “This Week” on Sunday, Criswell detailed one of the most federal reaction mentioned the Bidens’ visit would manage to pay for the president the chance to view the “devastation” for himself whilst providing citizens some “hope.”
“I think the biggest thing is, he’s going to be able to see what I saw when I went to Maui last week and just really experience the complete and utter devastation that this town had experienced,” Criswell mentioned.
“But he’s also going to be able to talk with people and hear their stories and provide a sense of hope and assurance that the federal government is going to be with them as he has directed, and we will continue to bring in resources to support the requests of the governor and their needs as they go through the recovery process.”
As of Friday evening, fires in Olinda and Kula have been 85% contained, the Lahaina hearth was once 90% contained and the Pulehu/Kihei hearth was once 100% contained, in accordance to Maui officers.
ABC News’ Ben Gittleson and Justin Gomez contributed to this record.
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