Current:Home > BackIn wildfire-decimated Lahaina, residents and business owners to start getting looks at their properties-InfoLens
In wildfire-decimated Lahaina, residents and business owners to start getting looks at their properties
View Date:2024-12-23 12:00:09
Wailuku, Hawaii — Maui authorities said Thursday they're planning to start letting residents and business owners make escorted visits to their properties in the restricted Lahaina Wildfire Disaster area later this month.
It's been nearly five weeks since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century devastated the historic town of Lahaina, killing 115 people and with dozens still listed as missing.
Darryl Oliveira, Maui Emergency Management Agency interim administrator, said in a news conference that officials plan to allow people in certain zones to start entering the restricted area Sept. 25. He said the goal and purpose of the supervised visits is for them to see their homes and properties safely and to get some closure.
"I really want to appreciate, or extend my appreciation to the community for being so patient and understanding, because I know that this has been long-awaited," Oliveira said.
How process will work
The process will involve applying for a pass and meeting with officials before the escorted visits. Oliveira said they will be offered by zones depending on where the Environmental Protection Agency has finished hazardous materials removal work.
The first zones will be announced Monday and officials will start contacting people to let them know and walk them through the process, he said.
"It is just overwhelming to see the devastation, so part of our process is to support people and prepare them for what to experience," he said. "We don't want to traumatize or hurt anyone more than they've been hurt to date."
Oliveira said people will be provided with protective gear, including respirators and special suits, and instructed on how to properly sift through debris while limiting exposure to toxic ash, according to CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV. "We don't want to hurt anyone any more than they've already been hurt," he said.
Water, shade and portable toilets will be available during the visits, Oliveira added. Health care providers will be available, and there will be guidance for salvaging any items at the properties.
"We don't want people stirring up toxic dust so will give guidance on gently moving through to search for anything," he said.
People who didn't live or have businesses in the restricted area won't be allowed to visit.
"It is not a safe environment for people to be in," he said, adding much work remains to be done.
What's ahead
"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," he said.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that people displaced by the fire are being moved into more permanent housing "the best that we can," including longer-term rentals and extended Airbnb rentals with a goal of getting people into 18 months of housing.
He said some may stay in hotels and another goal is to consolidate the number of hotels so services can more easily be provided.
The Aug. 8 fire started in the hills above the historic oceanfront town. Within hours it spread through homes and apartment buildings, art galleries and restaurants, destroying more than 2,000 structures and causing an estimated $5.5 billion in damage.
- In:
- Hawaii Wildfires
- Maui
- Lahaina
- Hawaii
- Wildfires
veryGood! (622)
Related
- Olivia Culpo Celebrates Christian McCaffrey's NFL Comeback Alongside Mother-in-Law
- World's deepest fish caught on camera for first time by scientists — over 27,000 feet below the surface
- Tom Brady Has the Purrfect Response to Rumors of His NFL Return
- How Bitcoin Has Fueled Ransomware Attacks
- Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio charged with operating vehicle while intoxicated
- Get to Know Top Chef's Season 20 Contestants Before the World All-Stars Premiere
- How That Iconic Taylor Swift Moment Happened in the You Season 4 Finale
- 2023 Coachella & Stagecoach Packing Guide: Festival-Approved Bags That Are Hands-Free & Trendy
- Eva Longoria calls US 'dystopian' under Trump, has moved with husband and son
- Hoda Kotb Shares What She So Badly Wants Her Daughters to Do When They Grow Up
Ranking
- Halle Berry Rocks Sheer Dress She Wore to 2002 Oscars 22 Years Later
- Lina Khan, Prominent Big Tech Critic, Will Lead The FTC
- U.S. drone strike in Syria kills ISIS leader who was plotting attacks in Europe, U.S. military says
- China threatens countermeasures if Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen meets House Speaker McCarthy on U.S. stopover
- Nicole Kidman Reveals the Surprising Reason for Starring in NSFW Movie Babygirl
- RHOSLC's Jen Shah Recalls Horrible Nightmare Moments Before Entering Prison
- Change.Org Workers Form A Union, Giving Labor Activists Another Win In Tech
- Sinaloa cartel boss who worked with El Chapo extradited from Mexico to U.S.
Recommendation
-
Target will be closed on Thanksgiving: Here’s when stores open on Black Friday
-
Malaysia to end all mandatory death sentences as capital punishment fades in Southeast Asia
-
Pregnant TikToker Abbie Herbert Shares Why She's Choosing to Have a C-Section
-
Now It's McDonald's Turn. A Data Breach Hits The Chain In Asia
-
Where is 'College GameDay' for Week 12? Location, what to know for ESPN show
-
Gigi Hadid Reflects on “Technically” Being a Nepo Baby
-
Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent Says She'd Never Trust Raquel Leviss Around Her Man in New Teaser
-
Designer Christian Siriano Has A Few Dresses Ruined in Burst Pipe Incident Days Before Oscars