Rep. Kevin McCarthy shared his takeaways after assessing the damage in Maui caused by various wildfires.
The speaker visited the affected areas of Lahaina by car along with Reps. Jill Tokuda (D-HI), David Joyce (R-OH), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID). Following touring around on Saturday, the group of representatives held a press conference to discuss what they witnessed and what steps to take going forward.
KEVIN MCCARTHY TO VISIT HAWAII TO WITNESS DAMAGE CAUSED BY WILDFIRES
The devastation in Hawaii that I witnessed today is heartbreaking and tragic. On behalf of the whole country, I extend heartfelt sympathy to the people of Maui, and I commend all the first responders who are working tirelessly on recovery efforts. https://t.co/sRmkGxNIt2
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) September 3, 2023
“I will tell you this, I truly appreciate, on behalf of all of my constituency, the fact that now we can truly call you part of our Ohana, our family,” Tokuda said of the congressional delegation. “Because we know that after what you have seen, what you have smelt, what you have heard today from our community, being right there in Lahaina amongst our people … we know you are part of our Ohana that is going to fight like hell every single day to make sure that Maui knows we will not leave you behind.”
The congressmen took turns sharing details of what they saw, including melted glass and metals, some entire apartment buildings that only had their elevator shafts left standing.
“I don’t think anybody can go there and not be moved. I don’t think anybody can go there and not have emotions overtake them,” McCarthy said of Lahaina. “Walking away, I think the responsibilities as policymakers: honor those who lost their lives, understand the heritage of the location in which it took place. Respect it, but rebuild it.”
One reporter asked about Federal Emergency Management Agency funding as a $16 billion request for emergency spending in the wake of the wildfires. McCarthy assured the reporter that “if you talk to FEMA, they have no concerns about where they’re going to be.” Then Joyce, as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, also assured that he would oversee more aid going to the state.
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“Wildfire is not a strange thing in my state,” Fulcher said of Idaho, which currently has the most fires of any state, at eight, with more than 64,000 acres affected as a result. “But most of the time, not always, but most of the time, it’s in remote areas, it’s in with large timber stand areas as opposed to in a dense urban area.”
Meanwhile, Maui’s death toll remains at 115. According to the Maui Police Department, 40 victims have been identified so far, and their families notified. Eight other victims have been identified, but their families have not been contacted. The county is soliciting the help of locals to identify 388 individuals who have been reported as missing.
