News and Media: Disaster 4724

After a disaster, rumors and myths can harm disaster survivors by causing confusion and can even prevent people from seeking assistance.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced today that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Hawaii to supplement response and recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on Aug. 8, 2023, and continuing.

FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks addressed business leaders in Hawaii during a call today, providing an update on the agency’s efforts to help survivors jumpstart their recovery from the disastrous wildfires in Maui.

Maui residents who were affected by the recent wildfires can now apply for federal disaster assistance at a joint Disaster Recovery Center that opened today at the University of Hawaii Maui College, 310 W. Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will provide Hawaii response updates to the White House media corps as first responders and search and rescue teams continue working in the devastated areas. To date, FEMA has approved more than $2.3 million in assistance to 1,331 households, including more than $798,000 in initial rental assistance, to help survivors jumpstart their recovery.