Maui wildfire devastation: How to help

Recently, wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have burned large swaths of land, destroyed thousands of buildings and decimated the town Lahaina. The fires have killed at least 115 people, and hundreds remain missing, according to The Guardian. The fires are now considered the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history.

According to CBS News, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has stated that there is “very little left” of Lahaina, where more than 2,700 structures have been destroyed. Green said he expects the death toll to keep climbing.

In the immediate aftermath of disasters, individuals and organizations often have a strong desire to help, but don’t always know the best ways to provide assistance. The AOA and the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) have connected with officials in Hawaii, who shared details about current recovery efforts and needs. While the recovery from this disaster will be a marathon, the sprint to help can start now.

Currently, the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) is working to coordinate health services through various major hospital systems and is continuing to collect names of physician volunteers and organizations offering help, sharing them through the chain of command as appropriate. The Hawaii DOH is also reaching out to native Hawaiian organizations due to the special needs of the population.

Medical support for Maui

Those who would like to provide funds to support health care volunteer efforts, medical care, patient support and medical supplies can make donations through AOF. When donating, in the designation section, donors can choose to send their funds to those with the greatest needs or donate funds for disaster/emergency relief. AOF works directly with local authorities and nonprofits to help direct donations to where they are needed most.

AOF has worked with communities across the country and profession for over 20 years, helping to ensure donations support health care needs derived directly from disasters. Some examples of where funds could go include medical outreach, supplies, mobile medical units or portable generators. Each disaster garners different donations, and each disaster warrants different needs. That’s why AOF works so closely with locals—they are in the best position to identify unmet needs or gaps in support.

Additional ways to support Maui

The Red Cross, Maui Nui Strong and Hawaii Community Foundation will also provide monetary support from donations to those most in need throughout the Lahaina community. These experienced organizations typically have a defined plan for what residents are likely to need as time goes on and they heal from the aftereffects of the disaster.