Disaster Profile

High winds caused by Hurricane Dora, dry conditions from the ongoing drought, low humidity, and a high-pressure system, created terrible fire conditions in Hawaii, igniting multiple wildfires on August 8th, 2023. The situation quickly escalated, as thousands of people attempted to flee, and were forced into the ocean to avoid the blaze.  The wildfires have left towns in ruins, particularly Lahaina. With the death toll at 115, these mark the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in over a century. The estimated damage totals approximately $5.6 billion, with over 2,200 structures destroyed. Of these, 86% were residential, leaving 4,500 people internally displaced and temporarily relocated to hotels for shelter. Lahaina was historically a mix of already-marginalized and low-income communities  juxtaposed with resorts and the tourist industry, meaning that several thousand people also became unemployed as a result. Because of the toxic materials let out from the fires, folks weren't even allowed to go back to their homes to properly grieve. 

Thus far, the team on the ground has made connections, and been helping support the community lead recovery efforts at a community hub. Work has ranged from preparing meals for survivors, working at distribution hubs,  harvesting crops at a local farm, which is sent to the community hubs to distribute to survivors, constructing "multipurpose units" and more!