Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for one week after wildfires devastated Lāhainā. Officials are urging residents to check in with the Family Disaster Center on Maui to provide DNA samples to help in identifying the dead.
The American Red Cross is helping to find and connect survivors. Matthew Wells, communications manager from the Hawaiʻi Red Cross chapter, said thousands of calls have come in since the fires began.
People can call the Red Cross or download their emergency app, although Wells said the best way for those affected by the fires to let loved ones know they are safe is to register in-person, as internet connections in West Maui are unreliable.
"It really is going to be one of those things where it's the entire community that's going to step forward and help rebuild," Wells said.
"And for the Red Cross, we're here to deal with money and manpower, so that people can get the services and the goods that they need."
If you are looking for someone, call 1-800-RED CROSS — that's 1-800-733-2767 — and use Option 4 for information on the Hawaiʻi wildfires. Anyone in the country can call.
This interview aired on The Conversation on August 15, 2023. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1. This interview was adapted for the web by Emily Tom.
