2023-08-21 13:33:31
WASHINGTON DC – President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui this Monday to meet with residents affected by this month’s wildfires, the deadliest in modern American history.
The Bidens are headed to the Maui town of Lahaina in the midst of their weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area and will meet with residents, first responders and state and local officials.
The president’s visit comes as a total of 850 people are believed to be missing in connection with the deadly wildfires, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a late-night post on Instagram and Facebook.
At least 114 people died in the wildfires, Bissen said. Twenty-seven of the victims have been identified, and 11 of them have been notified to their families. More than 1,285 people have been located safely, she said.
In a statement before his trip, Biden said: “I know how deeply loss can affect a family and a community, and I know that nothing can replace the loss of life. I will do everything in my power to help Maui recover and rebuild from this tragedy. And throughout our efforts, we focus on respecting sacred lands, cultures and traditions.”
Biden has been in close contact with Hawaii Governor Josh Green since the start of the Maui fires and has received regular briefings from federal emergency management agency administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security adviser , Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House said. in a launch.
Biden signed a major disaster declaration for the state earlier this month that made federal relief funds available to help Maui County residents recover.
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