President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are traveling to Maui on Monday to meet with residents affected by the wildfires this month, the deadliest in modern U.S. history.
The Bidens are heading to the town of Lahaina in Maui amid their weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area and will meet with residents, first responders and state and local officials.
The president’s visit comes as a total of 850 people are believed to be missing in connection with the deadly wildfires, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in an overnight post on Instagram and Facebook.
At least 114 people died in the wildfires, he said. Of the victims, 27 have been identified, with families of 11 of them notified. More than 1,285 people have been located safe, he said.
In a statement ahead of his trip, Biden said, “I know how profoundly loss can impact a family and a community and I know nothing can replace the loss of life. I will do everything in my power to help Maui recover and rebuild from this tragedy. And throughout our efforts, we are focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions.”
Biden has been in close contact with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green since the onset of fires in Maui and has received regular briefings from the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, and Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House said in a release.
Biden signed a major disaster declaration for the state earlier this month that made federal aid funding available to help Maui County residents recover.
As of Sunday, more than 1,000 federal personnel were on the ground in Maui assisting residents, including almost 450 search and rescue team members, the White House said. The administration has also approved more than $8 million in assistance to almost 2,500 households, including almost $3 million in initial rental assistance. FEMA has made more than 50,000 meals, 20,000 gallons of water, 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets and shelter supplies available to the county government for distribution, the release said.
Prior to Biden’s scheduled visit to Maui, Republicans had criticized the president for his silence on the devastating wildfires, although Biden had addressed the wildfires during a speech in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier this month. The president also addressed the catastrophe in remarks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last week, saying of the timing of his trip that he hadn’t wanted
Biden to meet with Maui residents and first responders after deadly wildfires
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