Maui residents slam government for not treating them as US citizens

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: NewsNation
28 Aug 2023 20:29
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The US federal government's response to the tragic Maui wildfires, resulting in over 115 deaths, is under scrutiny as officials fail to meet survivors' needs.

US President Joe Biden visiting the area devastated by wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, on August 21, 2023 (AFP)

The response of the US federal government to the Maui wildfires, which have tragically claimed the lives of over 115 individuals, is currently facing intense scrutiny.

A resident of Hawaii informed NewsNation of their dissatisfaction with governmental action on the Island, stating, "On a federal level, there’s been absolutely no help."

Around 20 days ago, when the flames engulfed Lahaina, Mike Cicchino and his spouse had to resort to jumping into the ocean to escape the fire. They spent more than three hours battling the waves in a bid to evade the inferno. Cicchino disclosed to NewsNation that he is still grappling with the harrowing experience.

"Being on fire, not knowing where land is, at points, the currents pulling us out where we can’t touch the ground," Cicchino told the American television network. "At times, I remember just telling her to make sure that she saves herself. 'Don’t worry. If I start drowning out here, you save yourself.' It’s the most terrifying experience of our life."

The repercussions of the fires have not only taken an emotional toll on Cicchino and his spouse but also a financial one. Their home and businesses were consumed by the fire, rendering them homeless and jobless. This grim reality is shared by numerous Hawaii residents who feel neglected by the federal government.

Cicchino asserted, "We are the 50th state here and we’re not being treated like we’re US citizens."

The Hawaiian resident conveyed his grievances regarding the lack of action taken by authorities in regard to the victims of the wildfire.

"We feel like we just got out of a fight for our life. Now, we’re back in another fight for our life to find a home, to find a place to rest our head at night."

Despite FEMA's approval of a one-time payment of a negligible $700 per household for individuals with urgent requirements, Cicchino revealed that he has yet to receive any of this financial assistance.

"We never received the $700, which I mean wouldn’t go very far here in Hawaii," Cicchino said. "We’re mostly getting help from private organizations and nonprofits," he added, emphasizing the glaring absence of governmental aid and the lack of proactive relief measures on the island.

Negligence gave rise to harrowing horrors in Maui

The wildfire's impact includes the destruction of over 2,000 structures and the tragic loss of 115 lives, marking it as the most deadly wildfire in the United States in more than a century.

While the exact cause of this blaze in Maui is still being investigated, experts have said that regardless of its point of origin, several factors contributed to its rapid propagation.

These elements encompassed the unchecked proliferation of flammable non-native plants, the volcanic landscape that generated desiccating downhill winds, an unusually dry winter, and a distant hurricane churning hundreds of kilometers southwest of Hawaii.

Despite Hawaii's familiarity with natural disasters such as earthquakes, active volcanoes, historic tsunamis, and recurrent powerful tropical storms, the lack of official alerts raised considerable concerns.

CNN quoted Hawaii congresswoman Jill Tokuda as saying, "We underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire."

Interestingly, the more robust outdoor warning sirens designed to alert residents about imminent danger remained silent, a fact confirmed by the Hawaii Emergency Services Administration (HI-EMA) on Friday.

According to NBC News, the HI-EMA stated, "Neither Maui nor HI-EMA activated warning sirens on Maui during the wildfire incident."

Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, stated that it was "too early" for him to determine whether the absence of sirens resulted from a technical malfunction or a deliberate decision by operators.