This is a report on the Hawaii WIldfires, as of 15 August 2023. The Virtual Medical Operations Briefs were initially created by faculty members and graduate students from the Yale University School of Public Health as a service-learning opportunity. Conceived during the Haiti Earthquake of 2010, it fuses the numerous status reports, maps, news, and web content into one document that can be easily read, widely distributed, and be interactive. These Special Reports are developed by graduate students from the Yale and are supervised by faculty. The reports are widely distributed and used throughout the federal interagency, international response community, and other state and private sector constituents. The reports are generated when a complex emergency, disaster or outbreak occurs which has significant health and medical implication.

1. WEATHER OUTLOOK
CURRENT SITUATION
BACKGROUND
WASH
HEALTH
IMPACTED AREA
HAWAII
Hawaii Office of the Governor
Hawaii Emergency Management
Agency
Website, Facebook
MAUI
County of Maui
Maui Emergency
Management Agency
(MEMA)
Website, Facebook
Twitter
UNITED STATES
The White House
HHS
Wildfire Guide Factsheet
CDC Wildfire Resources
NIOSH
FEMA
Hawaii Wildfires webpage
EPA
Federal Communications
Commission
LOCAL RESPONSE (HAWAII)
NGO(s)
AGGRAVATING FACTORS
MISSING DEAD
101*
*Situation is still developing. Numbers are expected to increase
YALE ESF-8 PLANNING AND RESPONSE PROGRAM SPECIAL REPORT
HAWAII WILDFIRE- AUGUST 2023
PRIORITY OF NEEDS
1,300*
15 AUGUST 2023
AS OF 2300 HRS EST
NATIONAL RESPONSE (US)
Yale – Tulane
Planning and Response Network
CONTRIBUTORS
NEWS AGENCIES
NPR
Reuters
CNN
BBC
AP News
CBS News
The Independent
The New York Times
The Washington Post
The Guardian
Scientific American
WEATHER
The Weather Channel
AirNow
National Weather Service
NONPROFIT ORGS
American Red Cross
DirectRelief
Charity Navigator
AS OF THIS EVENING ONLY 32%
OF THE BURN AREA SEARCHED

2. TYPE OF DISASTER: WILDFIRE
WHAT: Wildfires are raging in Maui, Hawaii’s second-largest island, prompting thousands of residents and visitors to evacuate due to the threat. Fueled
by strong winds and low humidity, the fires have been exacerbated by Hurricane Dora, a category 4 storm located around 500 miles south of
Hawaii. The National Weather Service attributes the destructive winds to the hurricane.
MAJORS DECLARATIONS: President Approves Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4724-DR-HI approved Aug 10, HHS Public Health Emergency Declared
11 AUG
WHEN: The fires began just after midnight Tuesday, August 8, according to Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura. The first fire happened around upper
Makawao and by 11am, the Lahaina fire had begun ravaging the town. Around noon Tuesday, August 8, another fire started in Kula. Then, about
6 p.m. the same day, a fourth fire began on the Pulehu Road in the central valley.
WHERE: The fires broke out earlier this week on three islands: Hawaii, Maui and Oahu with the deadliest fires being on Maui. The town of
Lahaina, a historic tourist town located in western Maui, was seemingly hit the hardest.
SITUATION: The fires on Maui started spreading widely Tuesday (August 8) – fueled in part by violent winds from Hurricane Dora, churning
more than 800 miles away – decimating homes and businesses, launching urgent rescue missions, knocking out power and
communication services, and even forcing some people into the ocean to avoid being burned. Richard Bissen Jr., the island’s mayor,
announced the initial death toll in a Wednesday news conference, but did not offer further details about the deaths and said
authorities are still conducting search and rescue operations.
More than 11,000 travelers were evacuated from Maui, according to Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Thousands of
animals were also displaced by the fires, the Maui Humane Society said in a Facebook post, pleading with residents who can to
foster pets to make space for more animals
DEAD : As of Tuesday , August 15, the confirmed death toll from these fires was raised to at least 101 people.
INJURED: According to local authorities, more than two dozen people have been injured.
MISSING: At least 1,300 remain missing
DAMAGES: This week’s wildfires are expected to be the 2nd costliest disaster in the history of Hawaii, second only to damages from 1992’s Hurricane Iniki.
Much of Lahaina, a tourist and economic hub of 9,000 people, has been destroyed, and hundreds of families have been displaced. It is estimated
that approximately 3,500 structures were within the perimeter of the fire in Lahaina and over 1,000 buildings were confirmed to be destroyed .
ACCESS: Though at least 16 roads were closed, the Maui airport was operating fully and airlines were dropping fares and offering waivers to get people off
the island. Some residents in Lahaina have expressed frustration about having difficulty accessing their homes amid road closures
BACKGROUND
HIGH-DEFINITION LINK
SOURCES: NPR, Reuters, CNN, AP News, The Independent, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Maui County

3. IMPACTED AREAS IN MAUI (PART 1)
•The Pulehu/Kīhei fire was declared 100 percent contained
Saturday (August 12) and is reported to still be fully
contained as of Monday (August 14).
•Upcountry/Kula fire: 60% contained as of Monday (August
14).
Kihei & Kula
• A new fire broke out in West Maui on Friday night (August
11), prompting evacuations in the Kaanapali area.
• The Kaanapali fire was extinguished on Saturday (August
12) and continues to remain contained.
Kaanapali
SOURCES: CNN, CBS News, Maui County
•The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and FEMA has put the cost of the estimated
rebuild from the Lahaina Fire at $5.52 billion.
•As of Friday, August 11, a total of 2,207 structures were damaged or destroyed
and 2,170 acres have burned as a result of the Lahaina Fire on Maui, according to
an updated damage assessment from the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and FEMA..
•Lahaina fire is 85% contained as of Monday (August 14).
Lahaina

4. IMPACTED AREAS IN MAUI (PART 2)
SOURCES: ReliefWeb CNN
AS OF 15 AUG - 1700 HRS EST - Firefighters on Maui are still attempting to contain wildfires in Upcountry and Lahaina. Officials from Maui County said that as of Monday,
65% of the fire in the Upcountry had been contained — roughly 678 acres of land. Air support had been called in earlier in the day to fight hot spots in the area. The fire in
Lahaina, which began on Aug. 8, has been 85% contained. Another fire, in the Pulehu area, remains fully contained — meaning the fires have been surrounded by firefighters
but not yet extinguished.

5. CURRENT SITUATION
DAMAGES
• Flyovers by the Civil Air Patrol found 1,692 structures destroyed — almost all of them residential. Officials
earlier had said 2,719 structures were exposed to the fire — with more than 80% of them damaged or
destroyed.
• Communications is difficult with phone and cell service down, and critical infrastructure has been
destroyed. Officials indicate it could be weeks before these systems are restored.
• There also was new information Saturday about the damage to boats, with nine confirmed to have sunk in
Lahaina Harbor according to sonar.
CONTAINMENT
• Upcountry/Kula fire (initially reported 8/8): Now 60% contained as of Monday, August 14
• Lahaina fire (initially reported 8/8): 85% contained as of Monday, August 14
• Puʻukoliʻi / Kaanapali fire (initially reported 8/11): One acre. Extinguished 8/12. Remains extinguished as of
Monday, August 14
WATER AND ELECTRICITY
• Hawaiian Electric announced it had restored power to about 80% of its customers on Maui .
• Kula residents who have running water were warned Friday by the Maui County water agency not to drink
it and to take only short, lukewarm showers “in a well-ventilated room” to avoid exposure to possible
chemical vapors.
• Agency director John Stufflebean told The Associated Press that people in Kula and Lahaina should not even
drink water after boiling it until further notice, as hundreds of pipes have been damaged by the wildfires.
HOSPITALS
• According to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, hospitals on Maui were overwhelmed with burn patients and people
suffering from smoke inhalation.
OBSTRUCTION TO AID
• The Hawaii toll could rise as rescuers reach parts of the island that had been unreachable due to ongoing
fires or obstructions.
According to local authorities, more than 101 deaths, two dozen injured, and 1,300 missing persons
have been reported in Hawaii. The numbers are expected to continue to rise.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS: This week’s wildfires are expected to be the second costliest disaster in
the history of Hawaii, second only to damages from 1992’s Hurricane Iniki. The worst hit area was
popular tourist town Lahaina, Maui.
SHELTER
• Shelters are starting to empty’: More than 400 hotel rooms are available for those
displaced, and 1,400 Airbnb units will be ready for them Tuesday.
• Red Cross responded immediately to the fires earlier this week by opening shelters for
those affected. In partnership with the county government, trained Red Cross disaster
workers are supporting emergency shelters on the islands of Maui and Oahu.
• FEMA is considering to house some of the survivors and disaster responders at the
Sheraton Hotel, which has 200 rooms available, according to a briefing Saturday (August
12) morning.
• The need for shelter was estimated at as many as 4,500 people, according to the figures
from FEMA and the Pacific Disaster Center on Saturday (August 12) .
RESCUE EFFORTS
• Authorities in Hawaii are working to evacuate people from Maui as firefighters work to
contain wildfires and put out flare-ups. The County of Maui said early Friday (August 11)
that 14,900 visitors left Maui by air Thursday.
• Police say a new fire prompted the evacuation of people in Kaanapali in West Maui on
Friday (August 11) night, the Maui Police Department announced on social media.
• Capt. Aja Kirksey said Coast Guard members moved quickly on Tuesday to help rescue
people who were forced to jump into the ocean to escape the wildfire. Kirksey said the
Coast Guard rescued 17 people from the water, all of whom are in stable condition.
OTHER CHALLENGES
• The death toll is expected to rise. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier called on
people with missing loved ones to submit DNA samples to help identify remains,
warning that it will take time to do so because some are so badly damaged that
they disintegrate when picked up.
• As the death toll from the fires on the island rises, it’s unclear how morgues will be able
to accommodate the number of victims considering there is just one hospital and three
mortuaries.
• The Maui Humane Society says it is seeking donations to help care for hundreds of dogs,
cats and other animals that have been injured or separated from their human families
because of the wildfires in Maui. The shelter says many animals need critical care due to
SOURCES: AP News, American Red Cross, CNN, The Washington Post, Maui County

6. WEATHER OUTLOOK
Source: The Weather Channel (Lahaina), The Weather Channel (Kihei), The Weather Channel (Kula)

7. FOOD & SHELTER
• When the fires first began earlier, the American Red Cross responded immediately, opening shelters
for those affected by this climate-driven crisis.
• Thousands have spent the night in evacuation shelters on the Hawaiian island of Maui after fast-
moving wildfires devastated parts.
• The Red Cross keeps disaster supplies pre-positioned on the islands, which allowed volunteers on
Maui to offer immediate help to evacuees.
• Currently, Red Cross teams are working alongside partners to provide people with a safe place to
stay, food to eat and emotional support during this challenging time.
• In partnership with the county government, trained Red Cross disaster workers are supporting
emergency shelters on the islands of Maui and Oahu.
• The shelter on Oahu is helping Maui residents and tourists that fled in search of safety from the fires.
• Since the fires began, the Red Cross and partners have provided more than 3,300 overnight shelter
stays.
WILDFIRE KITS
• A shipment from DirectRelief on August 12 includes numerous wildfire kits.
• These kits, developed in consultation with medical and emergency-response experts, aim to prevent
emergency room visits during significant wildfire events.
• They contain vital medications, including inhalers, nebulizer solutions, irrigation solutions,
antibiotics, analgesics, wound care products, and chronic disease medications.
OTHER MATERIAL NEEDS
• Personal Items: Prescription and emergency medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene
supplies, and other comfort items.
• Special Items for Children: Diapers, formula and toys
• People seeking services at local shelters are encouraged to bring their own supplies but there will be
a need for those who only came in with a limited amount of their own items.
PRIORITY OF NEEDS
Over 12.7 million people across the 10 provinces of Kahramanmaras, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Kilis and Osmaniye have been
affected. Hatay, Iskenderun, Maraș, Adıyaman, Malatya and Antakya cities appear to be the most affected, as well as Gaziantep, Antakya and Adana. The most affected districts
in Sanliurfa are Haliliye, Eyyübiye, Birecik, and Karaköprü (STL 09/02/2023)
Sources: American Red Cross, DirectRelief, Federal Communications Commission, NPR The New York Times
MEDICAL & PUBLIC HEALTH
• See slide titled “Health”
WATER, & SANITATION
• Firefighters who rushed to contain the Maui wildfire found that hydrants
were running dry, forcing crews to embark instead on a perilous rescue
mission.
• Lahaina’s water system collapsed.
• Across the island in Kula, which has a water system separate from
Lahaina’s, 16 structures were destroyed.
• See slide titled “WASH”
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
• The Maui PD Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is fully functional.
Some 911 calls are not being completed because the Lahaina switch is
isolated and some cell sites in the affected area are down.
• The total number of cell sites serving Kapalua, Napili-Honokowai,
Kaanapali, Lahaina,
• Launiupoko, and Olowalu is 21. As of August 12 at 6:00 a.m. (EDT) all are
out of service.
• Several wireless companies have deployed mobile assets to Maui to
support wireless services while fixed cell sites are being restored.
• Cable and wireline companies reported 19,093 subscribers out of service
in the disaster area; this may include the loss of telephone, television,
and/or Internet services.

8. AGGRAVATING FACTORS
DROUGHTS & DRY CONDITIONS IN MAUI
• About 14% of the state is suffering from severe or moderate drought, according to the US
Drought Monitor, while 80% of Hawaii is classed as abnormally dry.
• The island has experienced other serious fires in recent years, with blazes in 2018 and 2021
razing hundreds of homes and causing the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists.
• Hawaii is experiencing increasingly dry conditions, with scientists calculating that 90% of the
state is getting less rainfall than it did a century ago, with the period since 2008 particularly
dry.
• Scientists also note that some parts of the Hawaiian islands are covered with non-
native grasses that are more flammable than native plants.
• Drier vegetation and hotter temperatures mean that once a fire is ignited, it can spread
more easily.
CLIMATE CHANGE
• Rising global temperatures and drought have helped turn parts of Hawaii into a tinderbox
ahead of one of the deadliest fires in modern US history.
• Katharine Hayhoe, the chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy, said that global heating is
causing vegetation to dry out, priming it as fuel for an outbreak of fire.
• While climate change doesn’t start the fires, it does intensify them, according to Hayhoe.
• According to Erica Fleishman, a climate scientist at Oregon State University, some of the things
that we’re seeing with this wildfire in Maui are consistent with some of the trends that are
known and projected as climate changes.
• The state, known for its volcanoes and lush forests, is in parts drying out as global
heating continues to escalate.
• The UN expects extreme wildfires to increase in number and spread to areas previously
unaffected as a result of climate change and changes in how humans use land.
Sources: The Guardian, BBC
SUMMARY: Their toll has been devastating, although what sparked the deadly fires is still under investigation. Hurricane winds and dry weather, however, helped fuel the flames.
Drought or abnormally dry conditions across large parts of Hawaii - including the entire island of Maui - also played a role.
Wildfires generally need three ingredients: fuel in the form of biomass like vegetation or trees, a spark, and weather such as winds that drive the flames.
HURRICANE DORA
• Strong winds from Hurricane Dora, which passed Hawaii's coast on
Tuesday (August 8), helped fan the flames even further.
• The influence of the cyclone upon the fires surprised scientists, given that
Dora was churning around 500 miles away from Maui.

9. HEALTH
The effects of this natural disaster on the Maui community have been devastating. In fact, it is now the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century. In addition to the
immediate need to provide care to the many severely injured and a safe accommodation to those who have lost access to their homes, teams need to work to ensure continuity of
care to people with underlying conditions.
Sources: CBS News, Scientific American, Maui County
.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS
• Many airborne pollutants fall to the ground, and when debris or dust is stirred up, hazardous
particles can enter the air, where people can easily breathe them in.
• When fires spread through communities, as we've seen more often in recent years, they burn
structures that contain treated wood, plastics, paints and hazardous household wastes. They burn can
vehicles and melt plastic water pipes. All of these items release toxic gases and particles.
• Exposure to high levels of chemicals can sometimes cause immediate harm, such as nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, rashes and respiratory issues.
• On Aug. 11, 2023, Maui County issued an "unsafe water" alert for areas of Lahaina and Upper Kula
that were affected by wildfires, warning residents to use only bottled water for drinking and cooking,
and not rely on boiling tap water because of the risk of harmful chemicals.
OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS
• The air pollution from wildfires also has long-term health effects for survivors, including asthma and
other diseases.
• Beyond the immediate risks of burns, wildfires can exacerbate pre-existing health issues.
• Airborne particulates can worsen respiratory or cardiovascular problems, even sending those affected
to the emergency room, and people with chronic conditions can face acute medical crises if they
evacuate without their medications.
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES
• State health officials recommended that residents wear close-toed shoes, N95 respirators, chemical
resistant gloves and other protective equipment while looking through property debris.
• These and other chemicals pose an immediate health risk to water users, even if the water smells
fine. Simple water flushing can fail to remove severe contamination. Proper inspections and testing in
buildings and for private wells and larger water systems are important.
MAJOR CAUSES OF DEATH
• In such deadly blazes, smoke inhalation is the most common cause of death: people
inhale carbon monoxide and other gases and fine particles that make it hard to breathe.
• Wildfires can kill through direct injury and burns if you are caught in a fire.
• Or when fires happen in urban places, you can get destruction of buildings.
• You can get explosions, as we’ve seen in Hawaii with gas stations blowing up and things
like that, that can cause direct trauma and burns.
• Burns can be very deadly because they disrupt the skin barriers that you have and can
create a host of problems and infections.
MEDICAL INVENTORY & TEAMS ON THE GROUND
• At the request of Maui Search and Rescue, Direct Relief is dispatching 20 emergency
medical backpacks to bolster on-the-ground relief efforts.
• Direct Relief has made available its medical inventory, valued at over $300 million
wholesale, to healthcare providers across Hawaii.
HOSPITALS
• West Maui Medical: Maui Health clinicians and physicians began providing first-aid,
wound care, health and wellness checks pharmacy services, including baby formula for
all community members in need, regardless of health insurance, at Lahaina Gateway
and Napili Park on Saturday (August 12).
• On Saturday (August 12), Kaiser Permanente began providing medical services to KP
members and non-members at three locations in Lahaina.
• Kaiser Permanente’s Mobile Health Vehicle at Lahaina Gateway: Providing first
aid, pediatric services, and OB/GYN services. OB/GYN services begin 8/14 and
will be offered every Friday beginning 8/18.
• Kaiser Permanente First Aid Station at the Hyatt Regency Lahaina, Lahaina
Ballroom: Providing first aid services.
• Kaiser Permanente First Aid Station at Napili Park: Providing first aid and
pediatric services.

10. WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE (WASH)
UNSAFE WATER ADVISORY (MAUI COUNTY)
• For residents in Lahaina and Upper Kula areas, maps of affected
areas in Upcountry and in Lahaina were recently released on the
county Department of Water Supply website.
• The advisory remains in effect for certain areas until further notice
and states that residents should not drink and/or boil water.
• Bottled water should be used for all drinking, brushing
teeth, ice making and food preparation until further notice.
• Residents are unable to treat the water in any way to make
it safe.
• Drinking water sites are set up in many areas of Lahaina
and Kula.
• In Lahaina, the advisory applies to all areas except Kaniau Road and
all areas north of Kaniau Road, including Villages of Leialiʻ i.
• Customers are advised to:
• Limit the use of hot water
• Limit shower and bathing time and use lukewarm water
and ventilated area
• Use a dishwasher and the air-dry setting to wash dishes
• Wash clothing in cold water and avoid using clothes dryer
• Not use hot tubs or swimming pools
• Not use ice from icemakers
• Use proper ventilation when using water indoors
CURRENT WATER SUPPLY
• Water buffalo tankers (one per site) with drinkable water are
stationed at the following Upcountry locations: Crater Road, Copp
Road, Kula Fire Station, Rice Park, Kula Community Center and
Keokea.
• The West Maui locations include: Puamana Street, Kahoma Village,
Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center and Honokohau.
• One tanker is at each site, with the exception of Lahaina Gateway,
which has two.
Sources: Maui County, Maui County (2nd link), The New York Times,
ISSUES WITH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
• During the damage mitigation efforts on Tuesday after
a wildfire jumped containment near a residential
neighborhood in Lahaina, Hawaii, firefighters rushing
to slow the spread were distressed to find that their
hydrants were starting to run dry.
• Hoping to control the blaze as it took root among
homes along the hillside nearly a mile above the center
of town, fire crews encountered water pressure that
was increasingly feeble, with the wind turning the
streams into mist.
• As the fires by hurricane-force gusts grew, roaring
further toward the historic center of town on the
island of Maui, the hydrants sputtered and became
largely useless.
• The water system in Lahaina relies on both surface
water from a creek and groundwater pumped from
wells.
• Charles Jennings, an associate professor who
specializes in fire and emergency management issues
at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said he was
not aware of other cases in which burned pipes were
losing so much water that it affected the overall water
supply.
• West Maui’s water system relies on electrical power to
pump water through the network and deliver it to fire
hydrants, and officials at Hawaiian Electric, the state’s
main electrical utility, have said that the need to
maintain this pumping capability has made it difficult
to shut off power when high winds pose a fire risk.
• Across the island in Kula, which has a water system
separate from Lahaina’s, 16 structures were destroyed.
MAUI DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY – MAP OF AFFECTED AREAS

11. SUCCESSES
• Late Friday (August 11), firefighters battled flare-ups in Lahaina, the
Pulehu/Kihei area and Upcountry Maui, officials said.
• Near a county fueling station in Kaʻanapali, on the west side of Maui, a new
fire erupted at 6:10 p.m. on Friday (August 11), prompting renewed
evacuations. It was reported 100 percent contained before 8:30 p.m.,
according to Maui County officials.
• As of Saturday (August 12) morning local time, fire crews had contained all
the fires on the island of Hawaii, Hawaii County spokesman Cyrus Johnasen
said.
FAILURES
• The state’s vaunted integrated outdoor siren warning system – the largest in
the world, with about 400 alarms – was not activated during the fires,
according to Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam
Weintraub.
• While Maui’s warning sirens were not activated, emergency
communications with residents were largely limited to mobile phones and
broadcasters at a time when most power and cell service was already cut.
• On Maui, the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, there are 80
outdoor sirens to alert residents to tsunamis and other natural disasters.
They sat silent as people fled for their lives.
EVALUATION OF LOCAL RESPONSE
• Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez will lead a comprehensive review of
the emergency response with the goal of “understanding the decisions that
were made before and during the wildfires,” her office said in a statement.
• Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, said the state “underestimated the lethality,
the quickness of fire” and that the redundancies in the emergency alert
system failed.
SOURCES: FEMA, CNN, The Washington Post , Maui County
AID & RESCUE EFFORTS
• A volunteer relief effort led by Native Hawaiians has emerged to shuttle supplies to the disaster
zone. An impromptu flotilla of cruisers and catamarans carrying supplies such as generators,
propane tanks, clothing and ready-to-eat meals reached the beach in Kahana, just north of Maui’s
hardest-hit areas.
• Members of the Maui community rallied to provide necessities including bottled water, food and
toiletries to residents.
EMERGENCY SHELTERS
• Hannibal Tavares Community Center, Pukalani
• War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku (Internet)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kahului
• Kings Cathedral Church, Kahului
• Grace Bible Church, Kahului
• South Maui Community Park Gymnasium, Kihei
AMERICAN RED CROSS AND MAUI COUNTY
• The American Red Cross and Maui County continue to staff and support six shelters where food,
water, hygiene kits and other essential resources are provided to survivors who are unable to return
home.
• Since the fires began, the Red Cross and partners have provided almost 2,900 overnight shelter
stays. As of today, approximately 240 Red Cross personnel are responding or actively deploying and
around 100 volunteers are participating in a virtual call center to assist with shelter registrations.
• Hawaiian Electric restored additional circuits in West Maui and crews completed the installation of
a mobile substation at the Lahainaluna substation, which is expected to help restore power to
customers in the neighboring subdivisions.
HAWAIIAN NATIONAL GUARD
• The Hawaii National Guard expects another 200 staff members to arrive in the coming days, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday (August 13).
LOCAL RESPONSE - HAWAII

12. NATIONAL RESPONSE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
• On Thursday, August 10, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major
disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement state
and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on August 8,
2023 onward.
• The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in
Maui County.
• Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain
private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and
emergency protective measures in Maui County, and assistance for emergency
protective measures for Hawaii County.
US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved a public health emergency
effective Aug. 8 through Nov. 6, which provides greater flexibility in meeting emergency
health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in Hawaii.
• HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has deployed
disaster response personnel from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to Hawaii
to address the health impacts of the wildfires.
• HHS’ ASPR deployed an initial team of 13 responders to support emergency response
efforts in Hawaii. Responders include an assessment team from the NDMS Disaster
Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) and other public health response
personnel. The experienced mortuary specialists on the team, along with regional
response staff, are providing support across the state. ASPR stands ready to deploy
additional personnel as needed.
US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service approved Hawaii’s
request for impacted Child Nutrition Programs and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program benefits. The USDA is also coordinating pet reunification activities on the ground
and is assessing ability to supply food and water to large animals in Lahaina.
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
• The U.S. Department of State granted a fee waiver for people who lost their U.S. passport SOURCES: The White House, HHS, FEMA, The Washington Post ,
FEMA
• More than 250 FEMA personnel are deployed to assist Hawaii residents in their greatest
time of need, including 45 Disaster Survivor Assistance staff who are visiting shelters in
Maui to help survivors register for assistance and identify and report any critical needs.
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE)
• FEMA mission assigned debris management and temporary emergency power to the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to help clear up roads and stabilize electric service.
• USACE also completed its initial hazardous materials assessment in Maui.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
• FEMA mission assigned the Environmental Protection Agency to help with household
hazardous waste removal activities that are essential to begin recovery work in the
impacted areas.
CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is actively
conducting assessments of critical infrastructure and communications
systems and coordinating with private sector partners to establish temporary
communications solutions.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
•The Federal Aviation Administration has flight restrictions in place in Maui to
assist emergency response efforts.
US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
• The U.S. Small Business Administration encourages homeowners, renters,
businesses and nonprofits to apply for low interest disaster loans. Businesses
can apply for up to $2 million for physical damage or economic injury.

13. NATIONAL RESPONSE
DoD
• DoD is executing six approved mission assignments from FEMA that includes moving people, cargo and
supplies to the island; housing first responders; and helping with aerial firefighting,
• Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Stephen Logan as the dual-status commander of the Joint Task
Force 50 [that] will synchronize all DoD support to operations.
• The Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade has deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and one
CH-47 Chinook to Hawaii to assist with firefighting operations.
• Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 sent two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to help the
U.S. Coast Guard with search-and-recovery operations as well.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also deployed about 30 people -- a mix of active-duty soldiers
and civilians -- who are managing debris removal and providing temporary power for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
NATIONAL GUARD
• National Guard has activated 134 National Guard personnel, 99 from the Army National Guard and
35 from the Air National Guard, to assist with the Hawaii wildfire response. This includes liaison
support to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, support to local law enforcement and two
Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters to support wildfire response operations and
search-and-recovery teams.
• Hawaii National Guard has activated around 258 Army National Guard and Air National
Guard personnel for state active duty -- up to 134 weeks.
US COAST GUARD
• U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Station Maui have also been actively assisting in search and
rescue efforts.
• The crew aboard a Coast Guard 45-foot response boat based in Maui has assisted state
and local partners in rescuing 14 individuals from the waters off the island's coast as of
early Thursday.
• The Coast Guard has deployed 140 personnel and had shifted has shifted the focus of its
response to "minimizing maritime environmental impacts while remaining ready to
respond to any new reports of individuals in the water.
SOURCES: US Department of Defense

14. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO) IN RESPOSNE
SOURCES: Charity Navigator
Analysists from Charity Navigator have identified several highly rated charities providing disaster relief and recovery services.
Airlink Inc.
American Red Cross
Americares
Aloha United Way
Baby2baby
Catholic Charities Hawaii
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Convoy of Hope
Direct Relief
East Maui Animal Refuge
Global Empowerment Mission Inc.
GlobalGiving
Hawaii Community Foundation
Matthew 25: Ministries
Maui Family YMCA
Maui Food Bank
Maui Humane Society Inc.
Maui United Way Inc.
Operation USA
Samaritan's Purse
World Central Kitchen
World Vision

15. Yale MPH Student Contribution: Eridian Estrada Ramos
Yong Zhu, PhD – Yong.Zhu@yale.edu
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences); Track Director, Environmental Health
Sciences, Online Executive MPH Program; Assistant Director, Global Epidemiology
LTC (R) Joanne McGovern – Joanne.McGovern@yale.edu
Lecturer, Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health
Contacts
CONTACTS AND CONTRIBUTORS
The Virtual Medicap Operations Briefs were initially created by faculty members and graduate students from the Yale University School of Public Health as a service-learning opportunity.
Conceived during the Haiti Earthquake of 2010, it fuses the numerous status reports, maps, news, and web content into one document that can be easily read, widely distributed, and be
interactive. Tulane University faculty and students joined this effort during the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014 and Sacred Heart University to faculty and students joined the effort during
COVID-19.
These Special Reports are developed by graduate/undergraduate students from the participating universities and supervised by faculty. The reports are widely distributed and
Used throughout the federal interagency, international response community, and other state and private sector constituents. The reports are generated when a complex emergency, disaster or
outbreak occurs which has significant health and medical implication.
The report utilizes open-source information from a variety of reliable sources to provide situational awareness and a common operating picture.