In the aftermath of the catastrophic wildfires that began on August 8, 2023, in Lahaina, leading to over one hundred lives lost, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is responding with immediate support and collaboration.
"The nation watched with broken hearts as wildfires took lives and livelihoods in Maui – and the nation will stand with Maui as it rebuilds," Pete Buttigieg said in a press release. "This emergency funding will help residents get transportation networks back up and running with traffic signal replacements, erosion control, guardrails, and more – and we will continue to work to protect communities against these increasingly frequent climate disasters.”
Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt further emphasized the collaborative efforts in the recovery process, saying, “The Federal Highway Administration has been in close contact with HDOT and will remain so in order to bring the support needed in West Maui. The quick release funding we are providing today will help emergency service personnel, police, and other first responders obtain the equipment needed for traffic management in Lahaina and the surrounding area, as well as resources for repairs to infrastructure in the future.”
On Monday, August 21, 2023, the FHWA announced in the press release the immediate allocation of $3 million in “quick release” (QR) Emergency Relief (ER) funds. This matches the current total QR requested by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and will be used for various recovery items, including portable battery-operated traffic signals; traffic signals; erosion control of damaged areas; signs; guardrails; jersey barriers to reroute traffic and protect pedestrians and workers; and traffic management services by the police.
NBC News has confirmed that the death toll from these wildfires is now the highest in modern U.S. history, surpassing 100.
The federal government's immediate response and the emphasis on continued collaboration between FHWA and HDOT, as detailed in the press release, underscore the commitment to supporting Lahaina and the entire island of Maui in these tragic times. With climate disasters becoming more frequent, the funding not only focuses on restoring essential services but also on investing in future resilience and protection.
