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Maui residents slam slow federal response to wildfires: ‘The last to be thought of’

Hawaiians have been forced to take charge of their own wildfire recovery efforts in light of what some are blasting as an incredibly slow response by the federal government.

Professional surfer and Maui resident Kai Lenny said he and others sprang into action and got “boots on the ground” on the devastated west side of the island instead of waiting for the feds any longer.

“For some of us we were kind of sitting back, waiting for help to arrive and then nothing was sort of happening. We were just in shock,” Lenny told CBS News.

“I haven’t seen one state, one county, one federal official at any one of the donation hubs where people are most suffering,” Lenny continued. “As soon as you go to the west side, all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘Wow, why do I feel like I’m in a third-world country right now?’”

At least 99 people have perished in the fires — the deadliest in the country in more than a century — that have razed the west side of the island. Hundreds are still not accounted for. Destitute residents say they have had to turn to each other for assistance as the government response at all levels has been inadequate or absent.

Read more at https://nypost.com/2023/08/15/maui-residents-slam-slow-federal-response-to-wildfires/

#hawaii #maui #wildfires

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