Washington.- The US Federal Agency for the Management of Emergencies (FEMA) indicated this Monday that it has activated a temporary housing program for those affected by the fires in Hawaii, who will also be offered cash to cover their immediate needs.
The administrator of that agency, Deanne Criswell, pointed out in a telematic press conference that this program will allow those who have been forced to leave their homes due to fire to leave the shelters provided at first.
Those affected will be able to go to hotels or motels while they find a long-term solution. This temporary plan is in addition to the one deployed by the local authorities, who have also made rooms available to the local population on the Airbnb platform.
The fires that have devastated the island of Maui in the last week have already caused 96 deaths, although that number is likely to increase because, according to what the spokesman for the Hawaii Department of Defense, Jeff Hickman, told NBC on Monday, only has completed 3% of the search effort.
The FEMA administrator pointed out that federal efforts are also focused on providing the population with funds that allow them to meet their most immediate needs, such as food, water or medicine.
With that goal, they will receive $700, which will be added to the amount to which they are entitled for the loss of their homes or property. Criswell did not specify how many people will be able to benefit from the financial aid and housing.
The situation on the ground, he added, is “extremely dangerous”: “There are structures that are partially standing and that engineers have to clear first to ensure that the search is safe and that the dogs can enter.”
The White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, explained in her daily press conference that there are more than 300 FEMA workers on the ground to help with the rescue efforts, as well as that the local government has received 50,000 menus, 75,000 liters of water and 10,000 blankets to distribute to affected citizens.
