Frustrated Maui residents question government response

Residents of Maui who lost everything in the wildfires are frustrated by the lack of information, government support and access to the ruins of their homes. The blazes that have claimed at least 93 lives are the deadliest in the country in over a hundred years.

Locals say, church groups, community organizations and volunteers have been far more helpful than the government in providing transportation, shelter and delivering essential supplies via private boats and planes.

Frustrated with the lack of official aid, the local community has taken matters into its own hands, launching independent wildfire relief initiatives with a declaration, “We are not going anywhere.”

Officials close roads to Lahaina
Authorities have blocked the roads to Lahaina as they say it is still not safe for the residents to go back to their homes, where the fire has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,200 structures (most of them residential). Locals claim the blockages have further stymied help for the burnt-down city as thousands are without shelter.

Till Saturday, just 3% of the disaster zone had been searched.

More than 46,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated from Maui, and federal officials estimate the reconstruction cost to be nearly $6 billion.