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Saying, quote the fires began on tuesday and are now about 80 contained. The blazes spread quickly, fuelled by strong winds generated by a hurricane over the pacific ocean. Thousands are still in emergency shelters. Visitors are being evacuated from the island. These are the latest pictures we Have Smouldering Ruins and total devastation. The worst destruction has been on the island of maui, where some beachfront areas have been completely levelled. Us President Joe Biden has now declared the wildfires a major disaster. This triggers the release of federal funds to help Recovery Efforts. He spoke earlier. We have just approved a major disaster declaration for hawaii, which will get aid into the hands of people who desperately need the help now. Theyve lost, anyone who has lost a loved one, whose home has b ....
Approved, what its going to take a long time as the mayor and the governor alluded to, so much destruction, its going to take time to rebuild. Thank you. fit take time to rebuild. Thank ou. , take time to rebuild. Thank ou. ~ ,. , take time to rebuild. Thank ou. ,. , ~ you. At this time, would like to brina you. At this time, would like to bring up you. At this time, would like to bring up robert you. At this time, would like to bring up robert fenton, l to bring up robert fenton, region to bring up robert fenton, region nine fema administrator. We appreciate it. First, our condolences and prayer for those of lost friends and loved ones during this event. We want to be with you, not only now that through the recovery in the years to come. Also, a message of safety, continue to heed the warnings of local officials. Dont wait, listen to them, heed to their warnings. As all the speakers before me talked about, its unity of effort. Ijust like before me talked about, its unity of effort. ....
Those who have been displaced select wasnt of some of the governor had to say. Its select wasnt of some of the governor had to say. Governor had to say. Its a heartbreaking governor had to say. Its a heartbreaking day, governor had to say. Its a | heartbreaking day, without governor had to say. Its a i heartbreaking day, without a doubt. What we think that has been catastrophic but we tell you there is going to be a team effort to bring our state back. What we saw was the utter devastation of lahaina. We walked from end to end today as a team, mayor bessant for the county, Senator Schatz, federal level and myself, plus all of our teams and what we saw was likely the largest Natural Disaster in hawaii state history. You will recall in 1960 we had one year into statehood a tsunami that hit and took 61 lives on the big island. We are seeing loss of life here. As you know, the ....