Americares Responds to Hawaii Wildfires

Stamford, Conn. – Aug. 10, 2023 – Americares is preparing to deploy an emergency response team to help survivors of the deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.  

Maui County officials reported the fire in Lahaina has killed 36 people, injured dozens and destroyed more than 270 structures. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as multiple fires on the island are still burning. Today, President Joe Biden approved an emergency disaster declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support and federal funding for the recovery. 

“Thousands of families are in need of assistance, including many who, sadly, lost their homes in this tragic disaster,” said Americares Director of U.S. Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. “We have an emergency team ready to deploy and supplies ready to ship so survivors have the most critically needed items during this incredibly difficult time.” 

U.S-based Americares emergency response experts are expected to arrive in Honolulu tomorrow and from there go out into the hardest hit communities. Upon arrival, the team will assess the needs of local healthcare facilities, coordinate emergency shipments of medicine and relief supplies and work with local and national organizations responding to the crisis. 

At the same time, Americares is readying hygiene kits, first aid supplies and other critically needed items to send to partner organizations in Hawaii. The health-focused relief and development organization is also prepared to provide emergency funding to help restore health services for low-income and uninsured residents in affected communities.  

Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. The organization responds to more than 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. Americares has responded to some of the worst wildfires in the U.S., including the 2017 California wildfires, the 2018 Carr Fire, the 2020 Apple Fire and the massive 2020 wildfires that scorched swaths of the West Coast. 

Since its founding more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided $22 billion in aid to 164 countries.  

Donations to Americares U.S. Disaster Response Fund will support its response to this emergency. To donate, go to americares.org/usdisasters 

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images