An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes, cars and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Volunteers with the Connecticut Red Cross and an Americares team are responding to Hawaii to support those affected by tragic wildfires.
In Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui, 53 people have died and dozens of injuries have been reported. Nearly 300 structures have already been destroyed, according to Americares.
“Thousands of families are in need of assistance, including many who, sadly, lost their homes in this tragic disaster,” said Americares Director of U.S. Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. “We have an emergency team ready to deploy and supplies ready to ship so survivors have the most critically needed items during this incredibly difficult time.”
Americares, which is based in Stamford, said experts are expected to arrive in Honolulu Friday and from there, they'll go out into the hardest hit communities. The team will assess the needs of local healthcare facilities, coordinate emergency shipments of medicine and relief efforts, and work with organizations responding to the crisis, a spokesperson said.
The organization also said they're getting hygiene kits, first aid supplies and other critically needed supplies ready in warehouses across the United States, Europe and India.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The iconic Banyan tree stands among the rubble of burned buildings on Aug. 11, 2023, days after a catastrophic wildfire swept through the city.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The iconic Banyan tree stands among the rubble of burned buildings on Aug. 11, 2023, days after a catastrophic wildfire swept through the city.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Davilynn Severson holds a page of a yearbook as she looks for belongings through the ashes of their family’s home in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 11, 2023.
ustin Sullivan/Getty Images
Volunteers load water onto a boat to be transported to West Maui from the Kihei boat landing on Aug. 13, 2023, in Kihei, Hawaii. At least 93 people were confirmed dead over the weekend, and thousands were displaced after a wind driven wildfire devastated the towns of Lahaina and Kula this past week. Crews are continuing to search for nearly 1,000 missing people.
Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Fire damage is seen on Aug. 12, 2023, in Lahaina, HI. The death toll is expected to rise after devastating wildfires swept Maui early in the month.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cars are backed up for miles on the Honoapiilani highway as residents are allowed back into areas affected by the recent wildfire, Aug. 11, 2023, in Wailuku, Hawaii. Dozens of people were killed and thousands were displaced after a wind-driven wildfire devastated the town of Lahaina on Tuesday. Crews are continuing to search for missing people.
Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images
Burned houses and buildings are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire, is seen in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 12, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
An aerial image taken on Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
An aerial view of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Aug. 10, 2023. Dozens of people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Homes and buildings were burned to the ground around the harbor and Front Street in the historic Lahaina Town in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
A charred boat sits in Lahaina Harbor in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
An aerial image taken on Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
An aerial view of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Aug. 10, 2023. Dozens of people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes.
Clint Hansen / Maui Real Estate Radio
Wildfires blaze through North Kihei overnight on Hawaii’s Maui island, Aug. 10, 2023. Residents were cleared to return to Kihei by Thursday afternoon, according to the town’s updates.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Passengers try to rest and sleep after canceled and delayed flights while others wait to board flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kahului Airport in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui in Kahului, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Passengers try to rest and sleep after canceled and delayed flights while others wait to board flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kahului Airport in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui in Kahului, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
Courtesy Chris Sendrey
Smoke billows over Kula in Hawaii’s Maui island, Aug. 3, 2023.
Courtesy Chris Sendrey
Smoke billows over Kula in Hawaii’s Maui island, Aug. 3, 2023.
Courtesy Chris Sendrey
Smoke billows over Kula in Hawaii’s Maui island, Aug. 3, 2023.
Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson / Department of Defense
Hawaii Army National Guard helicopters fight wildfires with bucket drops, Aug. 9, 2023, in Maui, Hawaii. The National Guard said they dropped more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fires.
Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson / Department of Defense
Hawaii Army National Guard helicopters fight wildfires with bucket drops, Aug. 9, 2023, in Maui, Hawaii. The National Guard said they dropped more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fires.
Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson / Department of Defense
Hawaii Army National Guard helicopters fight wildfires with bucket drops, Aug. 9, 2023, in Maui, Hawaii. The National Guard said they dropped more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fires.
County of Maui
Smoke billows over Lahaina in this undated photo released by the County of Maui on Aug. 10, 2023. The historic town of Lahaina was reduced to ashes by Thursday, aerial photos show.
Trained Red Cross disaster workers are also responding to Hawaii. A spokesperson said volunteers are opening shelters for people to seek refuge from the fires.
Workers are providing evacuees with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support during this challenging time. Red Cross teams will help with damage assessment and distributing relief supplies when it's safe to do so.
For more information or to donate to Americares, click here. You can also find out more about Red Cross' efforts here.
