RFO commander answers debris removal and temporary housing questions from Lahaina residents

Photo By Patrick Moes | Col. Eric Swenson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recovery Field Office commander for the West Maui County, Hawai‘i, wildfires and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, commander, speaks to survivors about the USACE recovery efforts during a town hall in Lahaina, April 3. To date, USACE has had nearly 1,000 employees volunteer from across the nation to support the people of Maui in their recovery efforts following wildfires Aug. 8, 2023. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently working with the Federal Emergency Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the County of Maui to support debris removal and temporary housing efforts. Additional efforts already completed include the installation of the temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School and temporary power immediately following the fires.  

LAHAINA , HAWAII, UNITED STATES

04.05.2024

Story by Edward Rivera 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District

USACE Emergency Field Office, West Maui - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives answered questions and addressed concerns on debris removal and wildfire recovery during a public meeting held April 3 at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Col. Eric Swenson, recovery field office commander, was excited to announce the clearance of 510 properties and 156 completed lots returned to Maui County for the next step in the rebuilding process.

“Complete means, not only that we cleared the property of primary debris, but we have also done soil sampling, tree removal, as needed, we put erosion control down, and we returned the right of entry to the county and the complete package to FEMA as well,” said Swenson.

Maui County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Red Cross also provided updates. Topics included concerns about water and sewage, temporary housing, debris removal and mental health.

Questions posed to Swenson were divided between debris removal and temporary housing, FEMA mission assignments.

Tracy Bell, USACE call center representative said attending the public meetings, gives her insight to the community through the attendees. “I am better prepared to take calls from those affected by the wildfires making the calls more personal and productive.”

Anyone with concerns or questions about their property can contact the USACE call center at 877-214-9117 or 808-289-1805. Issue resolution and call center lines are open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. though 4:30 p.m., Saturdays and from 6 a.m. though 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

• Date Taken: 04.05.2024
• Date Posted: 04.08.2024 16:49
• Story ID: 467963
• Location: LAHAINA , HAWAII, US