Jan Wesner Childs
The death toll from the Maui wildfires has been revised down to at least 97.
It was previously thought that at least 115 people had died.
The change comes after advanced DNA testing with help from the Department Of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
The remains of 74 victims have been identified. That process is especially challenging because of the intense and fast-moving nature of the blaze that destroyed the town of Lahaina.
“When the fire broke out, people ran together, they huddled together,” said Dr. Jeremy Stuelpnagel, Maui County physician’s coroner. “They’re holding each other in those moments. Some of them were even holding pets.”
Because of that, some remains may have been mixed together or counted twice.
Where Things Stand Today
A makeshift memorial honoring the victims killed in the Aug. 8 fires and those who remain missing is seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 29, 2023.-The fire that ripped through Lahaina was one of several on Maui sparked during high winds on Aug. 7 and 8.
More than a month later, a plan is in the works to allow residents and business owners authorized visits to their properties.
The news, announced Thursday by Maui Emergency Management Agency Interim Director Darryl Oliveira, comes as the community struggles with immediate issues like housing for fire survivors, as well as the long-term challenges of rebuilding a town reduced to ashes.
(MORE: Veteran Firefighter Describes Search Through Ashes of Maui Fires)
-Schools in Lahaina remain closed, including Lahainaluna High School. About 500 high school students started classes in-person this week at a high school in a neighboring town. Younger students remain in online learning.
“I think that it’s very important for students to be in physical learning because we have our classmates around and it’s just much easier when you have your friends, your classmates, and especially for what we went through, we can be together,” Lahainaluna junior class president RJ Arconado told Maui Now.
(MORE: How Weather Fanned The Maui Fires Into A Deadly Catastrophe)
-State tourism officials are beckoning visitors back to areas of Maui not directly affected by the fires. But the annual Maui Invitational NCAA college basketball tournament has been moved to the University of Hawaii's main campus, which is near Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The event's usual venue, the Lahaina Civic Center, is being used as a hub for wildfire recovery efforts, according to a news release.
-A website, MauiRecovers.org, has been set up by Maui County to distribute information and provide updates.
-All of Maui remained in moderate to severe drought as of Tuesday, according to the latest edition of the U.S. drought monitor. "Drought conditions could get worse before they get better when winter arrives," weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles said Friday.
When Residents Can Return
A man walks through wildfire wreckage Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.Most of Lahaina remains off limits. The debris is considered hazardous and dust and particles in the air pose a health danger.
The phased authorized re-entry program will allow residents and business owners back only to visit their properties and attempt to retrieve any personal items that may be left.
"At some point the Army Corps of Engineers will start removing debris but not until people have time to get in and get their closure,” Oliveira said, according to The Associated Press.
(MORE: How Maui Fires Will Impact Land And Ocean)
Those entering the area will wear personal protective equipment and health care providers will be available if needed.
“It is just overwhelming to see the devastation, so part of our process is to support people and prepare them for what to experience,” Oliveira said. “We don't want to traumatize or hurt anyone more than they’ve been hurt to date.”
More than 7,200 people were staying in temporary housing including hotels on Maui as of Wednesday night.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in an update that efforts to provide longer-term housing are ongoing.
“We are moving people into more permanent housing the best we can," Green said, adding that the goal is to get people into housing for at least 18 months.
(MORE: A Look Back At August's Tragic, Unforgettable Weather)
For many, the price of housing is more than they can afford.
"Landlords are requiring residents to have 2-3 times the lease agreements which is pretty high, between $4,000-6,000 a month," displaced Maui resident Vicki Gladden told KITV.
Gladden, like many residents, isn't working after the fires.
"I'm doing what I can, being strong for my girls, and myself," she said.
Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
No comments:
Post a Comment