Hawaii Wildfires 2023: Partners' Toolkit

To learn how to stay safe during and after wildfires, including tips on safe debris clean-up, visit ready.gov/wildfires.

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To access emotional support for this traumatic event, you can call or text the free, confidential Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline and connect with trained crisis counselors 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990. 

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language (ASL), use your mobile device to call 1-800-985-5990 or click on “ASL Now” at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov (samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline) to contact an ASL fluent crisis worker.

For detailed updates about FEMA’s ongoing response and recovery efforts in Hawaii, as well as available resources, please visit FEMA.gov/hawaii-wildfires.

Hawaii Wildfires Disaster Assistance PSA

View the Hawaii Wildfires Playlist on YouTube for all videos related to helping survivors get through the recovery process.

Hawaii Wildfires B-Roll Playlist

View the Hawaii Wildfires B-Roll Playlist on YouTube .

Beware of fraud and scams. After a disaster there are often scams and rumors that target survivors. Please use official local, state and federal sources for credible information. Survivors should never trust someone claiming to be a disaster assistance employee asking for money. Local and federal disaster assistance workers do not solicit or accept money.

Be aware that after a disaster, there often are many rumors and scams. Watch for & report suspicious activity. 

Beware of scammers when applying for disaster assistance:  

📷 Ask FEMA reps to show you a photo ID badge.   

🔐 Keep your registration number & personal information safe.   

⚠️ Never agree to pay an application fee.

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If you are looking for ways to help, visit hawaiistatevoad.org. These organizations provide a variety of assistance to survivors. Cash donations are preferred because they offer voluntary agencies the flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources.

___ survivors: Here's what recovery might look like for you ⤵️   

1) Seek shelter and emergency assistance.

2) File your insurance claim(s).

3) Apply for FEMA disaster assistance. 

4) Complete a home inspection.

5) Receive FEMA decision.

6) Return to repaired home or finds new home. 

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___ survivors: If you have questions about your application status, want to find resources to help you recover, or need in-person support with ASL or assisted listening devices, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)!   

Text DRC & your ZIP CODE to 43362 to find a DRC near you.

To access emotional support for this traumatic event, you can call or text the free, confidential Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline and connect with trained crisis counselors 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language (ASL), use your mobile device to call 1-800-985-5990 or click on “ASL Now” at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov (samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline) to contact an ASL fluent crisis worker.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Office of Civil Rights if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination. 

FEMA’s Office of Civil Rights can be contacted by email FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available. 

When ready to apply, applicants should use the Public Assistance Grants Portal to account for all activities associated with their damage claims. 

Applicants can use the grants portal to:

• Register for and update an applicant profile 
• Submit a "Request for Public Assistance" 
• Upload project documentation 

Visit the Tools and Resources page for the schedule of equipment rate, project templates, cost estimating tools and other resources to support the application process. 

Login at grantee.fema.gov | Video Tutorial  

For those trying to locate loved ones, a Family Assistance Center is open at the Kahului Community Center for residents who are trying to locate family members or loved ones.

Those with phone access can also call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

Residents of Maui County who have been affected by this tragedy should register for FEMA assistance. Survivors with internet or telephone access can register for assistance by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 1-800-621- 3362 or by using the FEMA App (FEMA.gov/app).

If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

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• 3 Ways To Apply For Assistance
• Apply For Disaster Assistance
• Best Way To Apply For Assistance

To access emotional support or counseling for this traumatic event, you can call or text the FREE, confidential Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration disaster distress hotline and speak to professional counselors at 1-800-985-5990.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language (ASL), use your mobile device to call 1-800-985-5990 or click on “ASL Now” at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov to contact an ASL fluent crisis worker.

After a disaster there are often scams and rumors that target survivors. Please use official local, state and federal sources for credible information. Survivors should never trust someone claiming to be a disaster assistance employee asking for money. Local and federal disaster assistance workers do not solicit or accept money.

Related Graphics
Beware of Fraud and Scams

FEMA has thousands of staff deployed to disaster operations across the country. We share the latest video and photographs uploads from the response on our DVIDS platform.

Access Videos & Photos on DVIDS