Maui wildfires updates: President Biden, first lady tour damage

The fires burned thousands of homes and commercial buildings to the ground.

The deadly wildfires that erupted on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 have become the deadliest natural disaster in state history, officials said.

The blazes spread rapidly due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful winds. Much of the historic town of Lahaina has been "destroyed," officials said, and the inferno has burned thousands of residential and commercial buildings to the ground.

Maui Wildfires
ABC News, AP, Nasa

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Aug 17, 2023, 5:36 am

Maui Strong: Charities to directly support wildfire relief efforts

On Thursday, "Good Morning America" and ABC News organized efforts to help viewers get involved in relief efforts for survivors of the Maui fires.

"Good Morning America" is helping raise awareness for Maui fire relief efforts.
ABC News

How to help:

-- Maui Strong Fund

-- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

-- University of Hawai'i Foundation

-- Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui

-- American Red Cross/ABC

-ABC News’ Kelly McCarthy

Aug 16, 2023, 11:55 am

What we know about the victims

Over 100 people have died from the devastating wildfires on Maui. Officials have warned that the death toll is expected to rise as they work to contain the active blazes and assess the damage.

Click here to read what we know about some of the victims.

PHOTO: In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband.
In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband. Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc
Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc

Aug 21, 2023, 5:50 PM EDT

Bidens land in Maui, begin tour of devastated areas

President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden arrived in Maui around 11:20 a.m. local time for their visit to the devastated island.

Biden was greeted by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green at the bottom of Air Force One. Green shook the president’s hand before the two hugged.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Kahului Airport, Kahului, Hawaii, Aug. 21, 2023.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The first lady also hugged Green and his wife Jaime.

Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and Rep. Jill Tokuda also greeted the Bidens.

The president and first lady took an aerial tour aboard Marine One an aerial tour of the impacted areas with the governor, senators, Tokuda and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell.

The Bidens and the entourage then took a tour on foot.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 21, 2023, 1:59 PM EDT

Biden's visit will be 'an emotional day for everyone': White House

President Joe Biden and the first lady's visit to Maui later on Monday will be "an emotional day for everyone," White House principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton told reporters.

The president will "meet with parents who've lost children, and children who lost parents, and first responders who saved other's homes while their own burned to the ground," Dalton said.

An aerial image shows a red roofed house that survived the fires surrounded by destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in historic Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Over $8.5 million has been distributed to Maui residents, including $3.6 million for direct rental assistance, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said.

Eight-thousand families have registered for assistance, she said.

A rainbow appears above the devastated town of Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 20, 2023.
Yomiuri Shimbun via AP

Biden on Monday is expected to announce Bob Fenton, the Region 9 administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the chief federal response coordinator to oversee Maui's long-term coordinated federal recovery effort.

Criswell said Fenton will "provide that level of oversight and coordination to make sure all the federal departments and agencies are bringing all the resources that they can to help this community rebuild and recover."

A National Guardsman walks past a home destroyed in a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 18, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 21, 2023, 8:27 AM EDT

Bidens to receive ground tour in hard-hit Lahaina

President Joe Biden and the first lady will travel to Maui on Monday to meet with survivors and community members, and to survey the area devastated by the deadly wildfires.

An aerial view of burned cars and homes destroyed by wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 17, 2023.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Bidens will receive an aerial tour of impacted areas before landing in hard-hit Lahaina and touring part of the historic town to see the damage firsthand, according to a White House official.

The president will also deliver remarks and announce Bob Fenton, the Region 9 administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the chief federal response coordinator to oversee Maui's long-term coordinated federal recovery effort.

Hawaii Electric workers make repairs to electrical lines on Aug. 17, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Bidens will then attend a community engagement to meet with survivors, first responders, community members and other officials and volunteers who are supporting the recovery efforts.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 21, 2023, 4:53 AM EDT

850 missing after Lahaina fire, mayor says

There are 850 names on the list of people still missing following the Lahaina wildfire, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said.

"There is positive news in this number, because when this process began the missing person list contained over 2,000 names," Bissen said in a recorded video posted on social media on Sunday evening.

Missing people flyers for Lahaina, Hawaii, residents are posted on a bulletin board at King's Cathedral Maui in Kahului, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP

He said 114 people had been confirmed dead, of which 27 had been identified. Eleven families have been notified.

The latest figure for the missing is the result of a painstaking process undertaken by the FBI, he said. The bureau "combined and refined" the separate lists that had been collected by the American Red Cross, the FBI's Honolulu bureau, the Maui Police Department and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA's search and rescue team member works in a residential area consumed by a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP

Since the lists were started, more than 1,285 people have been located, Bissen said.

"Our lives have changed forever and things will not be the same," Bissen said. "What will be the same is the way we care for each other as we grieve and go through this together."

-ABC News' Aliyah Thomas

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