To deploy and we know Search And Rescue from california are being sent fema. Governing avenue sum has said they will be going in and they have experience with dealing with wildfires so how important is that to try to get the expertise onto the islands governor gavin newsome. Its governor gavin newsome. Its critical. This governor gavin newsome. Its critical. This is governor gavin newsome. It� s critical. This is probably a bit outside the norm for most of the agencies that are dealing with this in maui and just establishing a sense of normalcy and getting people the basic needs so they can be able to put things back together and certainly, those resources from california, under other states have reached out and the challenge in these kind of incidences is sometimes you have people who Self Dispatch and want to help and while it is well meaning, inside the structure that hawaii and the county of maui are establishing and that fema is assisting with is really assistance will be best placed. Is really assistance will be best placed. Talk to us a bit about the best placed. Talk to us a bit about the other best placed. Talk to us a bit about the other kind best placed. Talk to us a bit about the other kind of best placed. Talk to us a bit| about the other kind of risks than for People Living on the island. Of course, many people evacuating and going into shelters but it is notjust the immediate damage either as i understand it . Smoke inhalation can prevent a huge risk, counted, four miles . Absolutely, and any we see fire thatis absolutely, and any we see fire that is burning in natural vegetation, it produces a risk and what weve seen over the last few decades is an increase of fire burning in what we call the urban Interface Area where there is Build Infrastructure next to the wildland fires and so those things that are burning, cars and peoples homes and plastics and chemicals mixed into those and so the downstream effects of being exposed to a wildfire, theres smoke mixed into a community and it can be significantly more thanjust the and it can be significantly more than just the wildfire itself. More than ust the wildfire itself. ,. , more than ust the wildfire itself. ,. , itself. Just from your experience itself. Just from your experience of itself. Just from your. Experience of tracking wildfires, in recent years, do you think this is something that hawaii will have to deal with qwest like im sorry to interrupt you there, but were going to pause because it like the Press Conference, i do believe it is shortly going to get under way. Ill believe it is shortly going to get under way. Believe it is shortly going to get under way. Ill be here. Well, get under way. Ill be here. Well. Not get under way. Ill be here. Well, not quite get under way. Ill be here. Well, not quite yet get under way. Ill be here. Well, not quite yet but get under way. Ill be here. Well, not quite yet but we i get under way. Ill be here. | well, not quite yet but we will cut to it when it does, what i was going to ask you was how much more of a risk do you think this will be for hawaii in the years to come . It appears we are seeing increasing frequency of large damaging fires in the state of hawaii and so, this is a reality that they are probably going to have to address and not back which, im sorry to interrupt you but it does appear that this Press Conference is getting under way. Conference is getting under wa. � , conference is getting under wa. H , conference is getting under wa. V , id conference is getting under way id like i way. Lets listen in. Id like to bring way. Lets listen in. Id like to bring up way. Lets listen in. Id like to bring up governor way. Lets listen in. Id like to bring up governorjosh l to bring up governorjosh green. Aloha, friends. First of all, mahler aloha, friends. First of all, mahler for welcoming us to maui and marlowe mayor for being here and marlowe mayor for being here for and marlowe mayor for being here for us mahalo. Its a heartbreaking day without a doubt heartbreaking day without a doubt. What weve seen today has been doubt. What weve seen today has been catastrophic but we tell you has been catastrophic but we tell you theres going to be a team tell you theres going to be a team effort to bring our state back team effort to bring our state back. What we saw was the utter devastation of lahaina. We walked devastation of lahaina. We walked from end to end today as a team walked from end to end today as a team. Mayor besson, for the county. A team. Mayor besson, for the county, senator shuts, federal level county, senator shuts, federal level and county, senator shuts, federal level and myself plus all of our teams and what we saw was likely our teams and what we saw was likely the our teams and what we saw was likely the largest Natural Disaster in Hawaii State History Disaster In hawaii state history. You will recall in 1960 history. You will recall in 1960 we history. You will recall in 1960 we had one year into statehood a tsunami took 61 lives statehood a tsunami took 61 lives on statehood a tsunami took 61 lives on the big island. We are seeing lives on the big island. We are seeing loss of life. Here. As you seeing loss of life. Here. As you know. Seeing loss of life. Here. As you know, the number has been rising you know, the number has been rising and you know, the number has been rising and will continue to see loss rising and will continue to see loss of rising and will continue to see loss of life but we have extraordinary professionals working extraordinary professionals working on thisjob. We also have working on thisjob. We also have seen working on thisjob. We also have seen many hundreds of homes have seen many hundreds of homes destroyed, and thats going homes destroyed, and thats going to homes destroyed, and thats going to take a great deal of lime going to take a great deal of time to going to take a great deal of time to recover from. But thats time to recover from. But thats why we come together. We come thats why we come together. We come together to give comfort to people and, like i said, we will prevail but we come together now to talk about the specifics together now to talk about the specifics of resources. This morning specifics of resources. This morning at 12 10 am, my team and morning at12 10 am, my team and i morning at 12 10 am, my team and i submitted the proposal to the federal government for president ial Disaster Declaration and exactly six hours declaration and exactly six hours later, we were honoured to receive hours later, we were honoured to receive in the affirmative that to receive in the affirmative that the to receive in the affirmative that the federal government will be that the federal government will be supporting our full recovery. Which means that there recovery. Which means that there will be grants for individuals from fema and support individuals from fema and support for rental aid, support for small support for rental aid, support for Small Businesses and this isiust for Small Businesses and this isiust a for Small Businesses and this isjust a small piece of for Small Businesses and this is just a small piece of what is just a small piece of what is going is just a small piece of what is going to be necessary, but the financial aspects of the recovery the financial aspects of the recovery will help want the loss recovery will help want the loss of recovery will help want the loss of life because all of us will have loss of life because all of us will have a loved one here on maui will have a loved one here on maui that will have a loved one here on maui that we know of that lost a house. Maui that we know of that lost a house, but lost a friend. That a house, but lost a friend. That lost a house, but lost a friend. That lost. We talked to many people that lost. We talked to many people today not just at the shoulder, which was something to behold and we appreciate all of to behold and we appreciate all of the to behold and we appreciate all of the volunteers like we appreciate the incredible work of the appreciate the incredible work of the firefighters and police we of the firefighters and police we talked to an old gentleman who had we talked to an old gentleman who had not seen anything like this ever in his life, a wildfire this ever in his life, a wildfire that took a whole city wildfire that took a whole city his wildfire that took a whole city. His neighbours have all lost city. His neighbours have all lost their city. His neighbours have all lost their homes. His home was intact lost their homes. His home was intact and lost their homes. His home was intact and he was in tears. This intact and he was in tears. This is intact and he was in tears. This is a intact and he was in tears. This is a gentleman who does not cry this is a gentleman who does not cry easily. We saw young men not cry easily. We saw young men on not cry easily. We saw young men on bicycles riding through Lahaina Men On Bicycles Riding Through lahaina who also had much loss to Share Lahaina who also had much loss to share. They lost their houses to share. They lost their houses i to share. They lost their houses. I dont know where to turn houses. Idont know where to turn what houses. I dont know where to turn. What we are telling you is we turn. What we are telling you is we will turn. What we are telling you is we will rebuild. Today, youre is we will rebuild. Today, youre going to hear notjust me as youre going to hear notjust me as governor but youre going to see me as governor but youre going to see what senator schultz will be to see what senator schultz will be able to begin working on and will be able to begin working on and proposing for our aid and on and proposing for our aid and also on and proposing for our aid and also experts from fema and, of course, and also experts from fema and, of course, a and also experts from fema and, of course, a local leadership, state of course, a local leadership, State Senator and mayor sen schatz State Senator and mayor sen schatz. Were going to need to house schatz. Were going to need to house of schatz. Were going to need to house of people. It is our intent house of people. It is our intent to house of people. It is our intent to initially seek 2000 rooms intent to initially seek 2000 rooms so we can get housing for people rooms so we can get housing for people and it will mean reaching out all the hotels and those reaching out all the hotels and those in reaching out all the hotels and those in the community and will ask people to rent the extra rooms ask people to rent the extra rooms or ask people to rent the extra rooms or a dus or areas on their rooms or a dus or areas on their property, creating a programme so it will be available and deeply subsidised, in my opinion, to make subsidised, in my opinion, to make sure subsidised, in my opinion, to make sure that for many months the people need to find a home that they the people need to find a home that they can find a home. The hotels that they can find a home. The hotels are that they can find a home. The hotels are part of our economy and community and we will need to use and community and we will need to use them. We also Call To Action to use them. We also Call To Action for to use them. We also Call To Action for people across the states action for people across the states that if you have Additional Space in your home, if you Additional Space in your home, if you have Additional Space in your home, if you have the capacity to take if you have the capacity to take somebody in from west maui. Take somebody in from west maui, please do. Well find a way maui, please do. Well find a way to maui, please do. Well find a way to connect you. Please consider way to connect you. Please consider bringing those people into your consider bringing those people into your lives, specially if you into your lives, specially if you have into your lives, specially if you have a space you can otherwise rent. The state will find resources because the federal find resources because the federal government will be in full support. President biden spoke full support. President biden spoke to me directly and said they spoke to me directly and said they will spoke to me directly and said they will be with us all the way they will be with us all the way and they will be with us all the way and we will take questions at the way and we will take questions at the end there are several experts at the end there are several experts here who will address you and experts here who will address you and we understand you are hungry you and we understand you are hungry for you and we understand you are hungry for information but let me say hungry for information but let me say this upfront. We respect that me say this upfront. We respect that we me say this upfront. We respect that. We know how important it is that that. We know how important it is that you that. We know how important it is that you do yourjobs but were is that you do yourjobs but were just is that you do yourjobs but were just 48 hours in and there were just 48 hours in and there is were just 48 hours in and there is tragedy on the roadside, this tragedy in the homes roadside, this tragedy in the homes in roadside, this tragedy in the homes in lahaina and we are trying homes in lahaina and we are trying to homes in lahaina and we are trying to be very careful to respect trying to be very careful to respect the dignity of people who had such loss so if weve been who had such loss so if weve been at who had such loss so if weve been at any time more difficult to communicate, its because were to communicate, its because were also to communicate, its because were also trying to respect what were also trying to respect what they gone through. Will et what they gone through. Will get you what they gone through. Will get you a lot of information as we go get you a lot of information as we go forward so i will there and we go forward so i will there and give we go forward so i will there and give back to lahaina. Mahalo and give back to lahaina. Mahalo. I would like to welcome the county mayor. The county mayor. Hello. In an event like the county mayor. Hello. In an event like this the county mayor. Hello. In an event like this i the county mayor. Hello. In an event like this i think the county mayor. Hello. In an event like this i think we the county mayor. Hello. In an event like this i think we all i event like this i think we all understand it goes through several understand it goes through several phases. We have been in the phase several phases. We have been in the phase now fighting and saving the phase now fighting and saving lives. I appreciate the patience saving lives. I appreciate the patience the media has had with us, allowing us to work through the phase us, allowing us to work through the phase. Soon, we will be in the phase. Soon, we will be in the recovery and rebuilding phase, the recovery and rebuilding phase, as the governor has spoken phase, as the governor has spoken to. We know thats going to be spoken to. We know thats going to be a spoken to. We know thats going to be a long process. I really want to be a long process. I really want to to be a long process. I really want to speak to our citizens, residents, want to speak to our citizens, residents, visitors, our businesses have suffered tremendous loss and probably inconsolable grief. I think for us, the inconsolable grief. I think for us, the message is we are going to try us, the message is we are going to try our us, the message is we are going to try our very best to identify to try our very best to identify those that have perished so that the families can have perished so that the families can have that closure and can have can have that closure and can have that can have that closure and can have that understanding. Were also going to try connect our families also going to try connect our families with those who are in our shelters. As you understand, this was an emergency and people left without taking anything with them without taking anything with them and in most cases they had no choice them and in most cases they had no choice so now we are at the phase no choice so now we are at the phase where we need to make sure phase where we need to make sure those in our community, whether sure those in our community, whether they are in the hotel or a whether they are in the hotel or a Shelter 0rsina family and friends or a Shelter 0rsina family and friends that they need to try and match them back with their families and match them back with their families and a lot of work being families and a lot of work being done by all of the good people being done by all of the good people here to make that happen. And again, as the governor happen. And again, as the governor spoke to, we will rebuild governor spoke to, we will rebuild and thats, we have no choice rebuild and thats, we have no choice but rebuild and thats, we have no choice but to do that. Until you choice but to do that. Until you see choice but to do that. Until you see the devastation that we all witnessed, eitherthrough photographs before this morning or in person today, its difficult or in person today, its difficult to describe but there are lots difficult to describe but there are lots of people who will need are lots of people who will need a are lots of people who will need a lot of help and alcohol is government is to provide the help is government is to provide the help to is government is to provide the help to people. Is government is to provide the help to purple help to people. Our goal as government help to people. Our goal as government. I help to people. Our goal as government. I also help to people. Our goal as government. I also wanted. Help to people. Our goal as government. I also wanted to| government. I also wanted to speak to the folks whose homes were not damaged. And i know the question on your mind is when can i get back to my home . Just as soon as we can try to provide the certainty that we have recovered those that have perished, and thats really our goal right now, and were hoping to find people that may just be injured. A lot of time has passed since the incident were still that phase but please allow us to complete this process before we allow people back into their homes. There is no power, there is no water. Back on the west side either. So those are both things were trying to restore as well. We also want to make sure we can provide enough shelter space, space at our shelters for folks who are kind about the limits and will have to be creative with our team after this to try to get more for folks out on the west side so we are very cognisant of the main things that people want to know, where is my family member, when can i move back to my home and what is the Long Term Plan . I mostly want to thank all the partners and allies that we have in our federal government and state element Menton FellowCounty Government and support and of course, our public. Your patience, your vigilance, we continue to ask for. Thank you. I would now like to bring up us representative brian schatz. Senator~ representative brian schatz. Senator. Us senator. It� s representative brian schatz. Senator. Us senator. Its fine. Hello, everybody. Senator. Us senator. Its fine. Hello, everybody. I senator. Us senator. Its fine. Hello, everybody. I have senator. Us senator. Its fine. Hello, everybody. I have a hello, everybody. I have a couple of things to say. Firstly, we are unified from the federal to the state to the County Government and especially including the community. We were fortunate enough to be in the Emergency Operating Surfeit and have been a lot of the ocs and ive never seen such an Extraordinary Group of individuals operating centre. They are personally and professionally dedicated to Disaster Response and of course recovery and so many people have so many personal relationships that they are kind of managing, having to be a First Responder but also worry about their own families and so, we all want to thank them. Butjosh got a call from the president , ijust got a call from the vice president. Weve been assured that they are going to do everything they can in terms of a Disaster Supplementalfunding bill and supplemental funding bill and one of supplementalfunding bill and one of the best pieces of news which was fortuitous this week is that bob fenton from region nine, who has been a long time friend of hawaii through fema and wildfires, other wildfires, Volcanic Eruptions and floods and tropical storms, is here and tropical storms, is here and is one of the most knowledgeable people on Disaster Response and recovery that you could possibly get and he is here physically with us, walked front street, has done all of it and will stay for the duration, even as the fema administrator i think arrives tomorrow so we are united, we are not underestimating the task in front of us in the next couple of days and couple of weeks but also a couple of years. This is going to be a long period of recovery but we will rebuild. Will rebuild. Mahalo senator brian schatz. Will rebuild. Mahalo senator brian schatz. At will rebuild. Mahalo senator brian schatz. At this will rebuild. Mahalo senator brian schatz. At this time i l brian schatz. At this time i would brian schatz. At this time i would like to bring up Major General would like to bring up Major General ken hart. 6 would like to bring up maor general ken hart. � would like to bring up maor general ken hart. A photo good afternoon general ken hart. A photo good afternoon l general ken hart. A photo good afternoon. I like general ken hart. A photo good afternoon. I like to general ken hart. A photo good afternoon. I like to start general ken hart. A photo good afternoon. I like to start by afternoon. I like to start by offering my condolences and prayers to everyone from maui, including visitors. It was extremely saddening to see all the destruction there. I was fortunate to be able to see firsthand and now realise the amount of support we require from the federal, state, and private and i was talking to governor green. And said this has to be in all nation approach. Because of what i saw, will be activating the joint task force, a dual status command. I will be appointing Brigadier General stephen logan, it will be the commander so he will have the authority to command both active duty and National Guard forces. I bending close contact with the commander of the indo Pacific Commander of the indo Pacific Command and general charles flynn, the commander of the Us Army Pacific and they have said they will provide estate with Military Resources we need or response and recovery. We did ask and did formally request several capabilities and resources from fema and the federal government, to allow the administrator to go into the administrator to go into the details of what he has approved, what its going to