U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (left) and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorcas (right) speak in the Roosevelt Room as President Joe Biden discusses the government’s response and recovery efforts on Maui, Hawaii, in response to Hurricane Idalia. Watch as he talks about the ongoing response. The White House in Washington, D.C., August 30, 2023.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the federal government will provide $95 million to bolster Hawaii’s power grid following deadly wildfires.
At a White House event on disaster recovery, Mr. Biden said the funding “represents an investment in ensuring power reaches homes, hospitals and water stations, even during severe storms.”
The funding will also allow the Pacific Island nations to bury more power lines, replace old utility poles and remove the overgrown bushes around them, Biden said.
The news broke as Hawaii’s major power company. hawaiian electricThe company faces more than a dozen lawsuits alleging its practices contributed to the deadly fire, an allegation the utility denies.
At least 115 people have been killed and hundreds more are missing in the deadliest U.S. wildfires in more than 100 years that raged on Maui earlier this month. The historic town of Lahaina was destroyed, and Moody’s estimates the wildfires have caused economic losses of up to $6 billion.
Fitch, Moody’s and S&P all recently downgraded Hawaiian Electric’s credit rating to junk status. caveat The company could face more than $3.8 billion in potential liability in the Maui wildfires, he said.
Speaking at the White House, Biden pointed out that the federal government has already allocated $400 million to clear debris on Maui, and said the federal government would work with Maui residents throughout the recovery process. I tried to reassure the residents.
Mr. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Hawaii last week to inspect the damage and meet with survivors.
“We have seen the magnitude of the loss,” Biden said of his recent visit, adding, “We will do everything in our power to move heaven and earth to help you recover and get back to life. I have,” he said.
Biden made his speech as Hurricane Idalia raged through Florida and into southern Georgia. Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning as a Category 3 storm, but has since weakened to a Category 1 storm. At least two people had died and hundreds of thousands more were without power as of Wednesday afternoon.
Biden has met with governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to pledge federal support for recovery efforts, according to the White House.
