News

As Maui residents begin picking up the charred pieces of their lives, they face an equally daunting task: locating hundreds of people displaced by the flames. Two weeks after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century swept through the Maui community of Lahaina, authorities are struggling to account for over 800 individuals who remain unaccounted for.

One approach taken after the 2018 Paradise, California wildfire was the publication of a list of the missing in the local newspaper. This helped to identify scores of individuals who had survived but were incorrectly listed as missing. But the authorities in Maui have refrained from publicizing their list due to concerns about privacy rules and the potential to further traumatize families.

As of Monday, 115 deaths have been confirmed by Maui police. However, there are conflicting reports on the number of missing individuals. Hawaii Governor Josh Green estimated more than 1,000, while Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stated 850. During President Joe Biden’s visit to the devastated area, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall estimated the number to be between 500 and 800.

The American Red Cross has generated its own separate list of people who are unaccounted for, apart from law enforcement. They have received over 3,000 requests for reunification or welfare updates and have successfully completed around 2,400 of them. The organization cross-checks names with emergency shelter registration lists, contacts hospitals, and searches through social media to locate individuals.

The search continues as residents hope for answers and the safe return of their loved ones. Efforts are ongoing to reconcile the conflicting numbers and provide support to those affected by this devastating wildfire.

The post Hundreds Missing After Deadly Maui Wildfire as Residents and Authorities Search for Answers appeared first on ISP Today.