STORY: Maui wildfire survivors see long road ahead for rebuilding
DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:47
LOCATION: MAUI, the United States
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Lahaina
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ERLINDA FREEMAN, Maui wildfire survivor
3. various of Lahaina
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ALEX FREEMAN, Maui wildfire survivor
5. various of Lahaina

STORYLINE:

Just three minutes' drive from the historic seaside town of Lahaina, which was swallowed by wildfires on Aug. 8, an unofficial hub was set up in the garage of Alex Freeman's house, offering food and necessities to people in need.

Those who escaped the deadly flames are flocking here to drop off relief supplies. Those who lost everything in the fires are coming here to pick them up.

The supplies range from water, canned food, diapers, paper towels, hygiene products, dog and cat food, to medicines, gas, fans and air conditioners.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ERLINDA FREEMAN, Maui wildfire survivor
"Most of the supplies are coming from local people. As I observe, everything, I've never seen anybody from the mainland that gives supplies, but it's more on the Lahaina community that are helping each other. Just like I've said, if the help is coming from the federal, then it will be probably fast. But we don't know, just like the president said, 700 U.S. dollars for each family, it's beyond insult. You can have your 700 U.S. dollars, 700 U.S. dollars. Maui is so expensive. 700 U.S. dollars is only one day, one day('s worth of) groceries. They don't offer 700 U.S. dollars. That's beyond insulting the people of Lahaina. I don't want to say anymore, but you can see it in the news. They've been sending so many dollars, billions of dollars to other countries, but not here. But it's just so sad."

Freeman and his family were busy coordinating donations and handing out supplies, keeping this grassroots operation going since the catastrophe happened.

Weeks ago, a lagging emergency warning system caused chaos on the island.

Thousands fled for their lives, driving and running through heavy smoke and fire. But lots of them were trapped in traffic jams. Some leaped into the ocean to escape the flames.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ALEX FREEMAN, Maui wildfire survivor
"A lot of people didn't even know that there was a fire. So again, the whole concept of having sirens and getting more people to know. How did people like us know that there was a fire from as early as six in the morning? And people just opened the door to fire across, right across their house or right next door. But, basically, we evacuated. We got out safe. It's very tragic."

Two weeks since the fires engulfed Lahaina, home to about 13,000 people, there are still more than 1,000 people unaccounted for. 

According to updates about the County of Maui, the death toll from the Maui wildfires climbed to 115 as of Tuesday.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said he expects the death toll to keep climbing as search and rescue efforts continue.

The Maui wildfires are the deadliest U.S. wildfires in more than a century, and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Maui, the United States.
(XHTV)