Current:Home > FinanceBiden to send $95 million to Maui to strengthen electrical grid, disaster prevention-LoTradeCoin
Biden to send $95 million to Maui to strengthen electrical grid, disaster prevention
View Date:2024-12-24 09:40:46
President Joe Biden has announced that $95 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be given to Hawaii to aid in Maui’s rebuilding efforts following the deadly, devastating wildfires.
“We're not only building back but we’re going to build back a stronger and more resilient future which means we need to withstand any challenge coming our way in rebuilding the way Maui wants to rebuild,” Biden said during a Wednesday press conference.
On Aug. 8, several fires spread rapidly across the island due to dry conditions and high winds. Maui officials say downed power lines were likely behind the blazes. At least 115 people have been declared dead and thousands of structures have been destroyed.
As the land search for victims comes to an end, Maui and federal officials say the effort has moved toward hazardous waste removal and cleanup from the destroyed five-square-mile Lahaina region so people can return and rebuild in the town safely.
MORE: Maui County releases names of 388 people unaccounted for after deadly wildfires
Biden said the money will go toward putting electrical wires underground where possible, using stronger poles to hold up electrical wires, clearing brush and potential kindling from around above-ground wires.
He also said funding will ensure that electricity can reach homes, hospitals and water stations even during storms or intense weather.
Biden also hopes to introduce technology used in other parts of the country that can track where wires have gone down to improve emergency response time and to speed up repairs.
“All this will help Maui and the state of Hawaii better withstand future disasters because it’s not going away,” said Biden, referring to such disasters.
Biden visited the island on Aug. 21 to survey the destruction.
veryGood! (8265)
Related
- Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
- Tropical Storm Nicholas Threatens The Gulf Coast With Heavy Rain
- Sophia Grace Reveals the Best, Worst and Most Surprising Parts of Being a Mom
- After Dire U.N. Warning On Climate, Will Anything Change?
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
- Pushed to the edge, tribe members in coastal Louisiana wonder where to go after Ida
- Key witness in Madeleine McCann case reveals chilling discussion with prime suspect: She didn't even scream
- Emmy Rossum Gives Birth, Privately Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Sam Esmail
- Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym After 3 Days
- Hundreds Of Thousands Are Still Without Power In Louisiana. Some Could Be For Weeks
Ranking
- Ryan Reynolds Makes Dream Come True for 9-Year-Old Fan Battling Cancer
- Dozens injured by gas explosion at building in central Paris
- See Kane Brown Make His Blazing Hot Acting Debut in Fire Country Sneak Peek
- Flash Deal: Save $22 on the It Cosmetics Superhero Volumizing Mascara
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- Fitbit 24-Hour Flash Deal: Save $50 on the Versa 4 Smartwatch and Activity Tracker
- Israeli settlers rampage through Palestinian town as violence escalates in occupied West Bank
- Why Kelly Ripa Says She and Mark Consuelos Are Taking a Vow of Chastity
Recommendation
-
Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
-
The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away
-
Satellite Photos Show Just How Bad The Flooding From Ida Has Been In New Jersey
-
There's A Big Push For Electric Cars, With The White House Teaming Up With Automakers
-
Shaboozey to headline halftime show of Lions-Bears game on Thanksgiving
-
Manchin Calls On Democrats To Hit Pause On The $3.5 Trillion Budget Package
-
Gina Rodriguez Reveals Name of Her and Joe Locicero's Baby Boy
-
Why The South Is Decades Ahead Of The West In Wildfire Prevention