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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz made no specific funding proposal, but detailed the events that led up to the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire and the ongoing suffering in a speech before Congress today.

“Americans all share the responsibility of providing relief to these survivors,” Schatz said in remarks that lasted over 15 minutes. “Because while Maui is today’s victim of extreme weather it may very well be another state tomorrow. We have already seen so much damage this summer in Florida, California, Vermont, Louisiana and more. These catastrophic events are unfortunately becoming more common and more severe.”

“… With time, scars will heal, Lahaina will be restored and we will be there to support them every step of the way.”

Schatz spoke of Lahaina’s rich history as the 19th Century seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom, its emergence as a port to whaling ships from around the world and its plantation era that drew generations of immigrants from China, Japan, Portugal and the Philippines and became a modern-day community “where everyone knows each other.”

The fire destroyed three healthcare clinics in West Maui at a time when survivors need immediate and long-term care in permanent settings for a wide range of health needs, including for pediatric, obstetrics and mental health treatment.

Even people who still have jobs have no way to get to work after their vehicles were destroyed while parents struggle to figure out how to educate their children after one school was destroyed and three others are being assessed for damage, Schatz said.

At the same time, he said, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or “FEMA will need to complete one of the most complex debris removal operations in its history. We’re talking about tons and tons of waste that we will need to safely clean up off the streets and transport out of Hawaii. It may take up to a year and cost up to $1 billion. … None of this will be easy.”

EARLIER COVERAGE

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, delivered remarks on the Senate floor as U.S. Senators return for legislative session today.

The Aug. 8 deadly fires on Maui devastated Lahaina, destroyed over 2,200 buildings and killed at least 115 people.

Schatz outlined the impact of the deadly Maui fires and urged for the continued need for federal support.

“While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, we know that the federal share of costs for recovery will be in the billions of dollars,” Schatz said. “Americans all share the responsibility in providing relief to these survivors, because while Maui is today’s victim of extreme weather, it may very well be another state tomorrow.”

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