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FEMA says dwindling disaster fund can pay for Hawaii recovery
"We have the resources that we need to support the survivors in Hawaii," a FEMA official said Tuesday as death toll rises to 106 people.
CLIMATEWIRE | A federal disaster fund that is paying for recovery from the Hawaii wildfires is dwindling fast, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday that the fund has sufficient money to help communities and people recover from the wildfires that have killed 106 people.
If FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund runs out of money, the recovery efforts after natural disasters could slow down, FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks told lawmakers in May. The Biden administration Thursday asked Congress to approve a $12 billion emergency spending bill for the fund, four months after the FEMA publicly warned that the pot of money is nearing its depletion.
But FEMA said Tuesday during a news conference that the agency does not expect any near-term financial difficulties in assisting wildfire survivors on Hawaii’s Maui island.
"We don't have any limitations or shortfalls in our response activities,” said Keith Turi, deputy associate administrator for response and recovery at FEMA. “At this point, we have the resources that we need to support the survivors in Hawaii.”
A FEMA report released last week projects that its Disaster Relief Fund will face a $4.3 billion deficit in September. The agency is currently dealing with 71 major disasters while it reviews another 11 requests from governors to have part of their states declared a disaster and made eligible for federal aid.
FEMA’s multibillion-dollar disaster fund pays costs for cleanup and rebuilding after a major disaster, including wildfires. It also gives individuals emergency aid for expenses such as temporary housing and minor home repairs.
FEMA’s Daily Operations Briefing for Tuesday shows that roughly 2,850 acres have burned in the two wildfire spots in Maui, and that one fire is 85 percent contained while the other is 65 percent contained. The amount of burned acreage is small compared to recent wildfires in California and Colorado that scorched hundreds of thousands of acres each. But the Hawaii fires hit densely populated areas. Maui County officials confirmed 106 deaths Tuesday night.
While the cause of the Hawaii wildfires is unclear, some residents are blaming the state utility company for not shutting down power, which could have prevented fallen power lines from generating sparks that spread fire.
Wildfire survivors have uploaded videos that documented the fires roaring into a blaze after utility poles fell on dry grass. A class-action lawsuit has been filed seeking damages from Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. The suit alleges that the company was aware that power shutdowns can be an effective strategy in preventing wildfires but never adopted such measures.
Hawaiian Electric President and CEO Shelee Kimura said at a news conference Monday that power shutdowns can harm medical facilities and firefighting efforts, describing the practice as “controversial” and “not universally accepted.”
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said during a new conference that residents’ frustration around the lack of cell service and internet connection contradict their complaint against the power company.
“Do you want notifications or do you want the power shut off?” Pelletier said. “You don’t get it both ways.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
