Hawaii Wildfires 2023: Partners' Toolkit

FEMA requests your help delivering important information about recovery to the survivors of the Hawaii wildfires.

Below you will find resources that you can use to provide information to your communities and encourage survivors to:

  • Take steps to get federal assistance
  • Use credible sources of information
  • Find mental health support
  • Locate loved ones

Visit these FEMA webpages to find trusted resources to support your community's recovery.

Local Resources

Sample Text to Communicate with Survivors

FEMA and its federal partners are on the ground on Maui to assist survivors as they begin their long-term recovery plan. If you have been impacted by the Hawaii wildfires, there are resources available to help jumpstart your recovery.

Scroll through this collection of sample text and graphics to use in emails, social media, flyers and other materials to communicate with survivors in Hawaii. Or visit Disaster Support Social Graphics to view all resources.

Help for Maui County Residents - Sample Text

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.

Related Graphics

Photos & Videos - DVIDS

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

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Individual Assistance/Jumpstart Recovery - Social Media Text
Option 1

___ 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. 

Option 2

___ 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.

Text to Find a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

GRAPHICS AVAILABLE

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Story
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Chamorro, Chuukese, Creole, French, German, Hindi, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian), Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese

Social Media Sample Text

[STORM NAME] 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, visit a local Disaster Recovery Center!  

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

4 Ways to Apply for Disaster Assistance

GRAPHICS AVAILABLE

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Story, and Instagram/Facebook Feed
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Chamorro, Chuukese, Creole, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian), Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

Social Media Sample Text

Have you suffered loss or damage due to Hurricane ___? If you're from one of the designated counties, you might be eligible for our assistance. Apply by:  

- FEMA app  

- Online: http://disasterassistance.gov 

- Phone: 800-621-3362  

- In Person: Visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you - fema.gov/drc

Learn More: Survivors' Road to Recovery

Helping Children Cope - Printable Flyer

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Flyer
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, French, Japanese, Nepali, Pashto, Kirundi, Somali, Swahili, Tagalog and Vietnamese

Additional Related Resources

Helping Children Cope

Commitment to Civil Rights

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. 

Videos and PSAs

Hawaii Wildfires Disaster Assistance PSA

Aug 13, 2023 — Krystal Ka‘ai, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders urges survirors to apply for FEMA assistance.
alert - info

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

Hawaii Wildfires B-Roll Playlist

Protect Yourself After a Wildfire - Social Media

If you evacuated, return home ONLY when local officials say it is safe to do so. We can imagine how difficult and frustrating it is to have to stay away. Please know these instructions are for your safety.
If you have been told it is safe to return to your home or business, it is important to be aware of potential hazards after a wildfire. Use caution when entering a burned area:

  • Stay away from unstable power poles or structures
  • Watch for hazards on the ground
  • Wear protective shoes and gloves
Crisis Counseling - Social Media

Disasters can cause mental and emotional distress to survivors and loved ones. There are resources to help you through the experience.

Talk to a professional counselor via @samhsagov's @distressline: 1-800-985-5990

Finds tips to help children cope at ready.gov/kids/helping-children-cope.

FEMA Speaks Your Language - Social Media

There is support if you were affected by wildfires in Hawaii. No matter what language you speak, FEMA can help.


Online: FEMA.gov/hawaii-wildfires
Call the FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362

Apply for Assistance - Social Media

Maui residents affected by the ongoing wildfires can now apply for federal disaster assistance.
Three easy ways to apply:

  • Online: DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Call: 800-621-3362 (Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language)
  • FEMA App: FEMA.gov/app
Homeownership - Printable Flyer
  • Formats: Flyer
  • Languages: English and Spanish

For more information visit: Verifying Home Ownership or Occupancy

Beware of Fraud and Scams - Sample Text

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

Emotional Support and Counseling - Sample Text

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.

Stay Informed - Sample Text

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

Manage Expectation - FEMA Assistance

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook and Twitter
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Chamorro, Chuukees, Croatian, French, German, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language), Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese
Ways to Help - Sample Text

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.

Stay Safe - Sample Text

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

Related Graphics

Locate a Loved One - Sample Text

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.

Disaster Assistance Registration Flyer

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Flyer
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Chamorro, Chuukese, French, German, Gujarati, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language), Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Kayah, Kiche, Korean, Ilocano, Navajo, Nepalese, Marshallese, Pashto, Polish, Pohnpeian, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Swahili, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Tonga, Urdu, and Vietnamese
Additional Related Resources
Common Reasons for Denial

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  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Story
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Chamorro, Chuukese, Creole, German, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian), Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

What Houses of Worship Need to Know About the FEMA Disaster Aid Process

Social Graphics Available

  • Formats: Flyer
  • Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

For more information: Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster

What to Expect (In-Person Inspection)

Social Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Story
  • Languages: English and Spanish
Start Your Recovery Process

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Flyer, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Story
  • Languages:  English, Spanish, Arabic, Creole, Hindi, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian), Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese

For more information visit: Individuals and Households Program

Social Media Sample Text

Option 1

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

1️) File your insurance claim(s).  

2️) Apply for FEMA disaster assistance.  

3️) Complete a home inspection. 

 4) Receive FEMA decision. 

Option 2

___ 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.

Ineligible Due to Insurance

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Story
  • Languages:  English, Spanish,Chamorro, Chuukese, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language), Japanese, Korean, Ilocano, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

For more information visit: Eligibility Criteria for FEMA Assistance

Difference Between Individual Assistance Versus Public Assistance Grant Programs

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Flyer
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, French, German, Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Urdu, and Vietnamese

Social Media Sample Text

After a disaster like ____, communities may need funding support in order to recover. That's when @fema steps in with public assistance grants. These funds help the state with debris removal, emergency response & restoring infrastructure. 

Do you know the difference between our Individual Assistance & Public Assistance programs?  

☑️ IA: Funding for survivors who have expenses and serious needs not covered by insurance. 

☑️ PA: Funds given to local & state governments to help communities recover from disasters. 

Displaced From Your Rental Property

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Twitter, and Flyer
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Tagalog, Chinese, Guajarati, Korean, Italian and Haitian Creole
Protecting Your Identity

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Instagram Feed, and Twitter
  • Languages:  English, Spanish, Creole,  Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Ilocano, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language, Japanese Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu & Vietnamese

Apply For Disaster Assistance

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Facebook, Instagram Story, and Twitter
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, French, German, Creole, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

For more information visit: Individual Assistance

Social Media Sample Text

Option 1

Have you suffered loss or damage due to Hurricane ___? If you're from one of the designated counties, you might be eligible for our assistance. Apply by:  

- FEMA app  

- Online: http://disasterassistance.gov 

- Phone: 800-621-3362  

- In Person: Visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you - fema.gov/drc

Learn More: Survivors' Road to Recovery

Option 2

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

1️) File your insurance claim(s).  

2️) Apply for FEMA disaster assistance.  

3️) Complete a home inspection. 

 4️) Apply for a low-interest loan from @SBAgov. 

 5️) Receive FEMA decision. 

Learn More: Survivors' Road to Recovery

Option 3

___ 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, visit a local Disaster Recovery Center!  

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

How to Write an Appeal

Graphics Available

  • Formats: Flyer, Facebook and Twitter
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Chamorro, Chuukese, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

For more information visit: How Do I Appeal the Final Decision?

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