Biden approves Maui wildfire aid after Lahaina burns

President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Hawaii on August 10, 2023, after wind-driven wildfires destroyed much of Lahaina on Maui. FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration later described the disaster as the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history, with more than 2,200 structures destroyed, about $5.5 billion in damages, and more than 100 lives lost. The response triggered major questions about sirens, evacuation, housing, utility risk, tourism pressure and how FEMA handles survivors in a state with extreme housing costs.