Why Rebuilding After Maui Fire Is Taking So Long

The Daily Signal

Government, Daily News, News, Politics

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2024

⏱️ 19 minutes

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Summary

Cleanup after wildfires is inherently more difficult than recovery from other natural disasters, according to Brian Cavanaugh, a visiting fellow for Cybersecurity, Intelligence, and Homeland Security at The Heritage Foundation. Unlike a hurricane, which mainly creates wind and water damage, Cavanaugh says, fires damage the structural integrity of buildings and often leave dangerous chemicals behind. “Wildfire rolls through a community, and you essentially lose everything all the way down to the foundation,” says Cavanaugh, who has former senior-level experience serving in the Department of Homeland Security, at the White House, and at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Now, you think once you've lost everything down to the foundation, start the rebuild process, but, everything as it burns leaves chemicals and other items on the ground. You've got to pick up the personal effects that are salvageable. [There are] a lot of environmental regulations involved with wildfire, so that all takes time.” Aug. 8 marked one year since a wildfire raged through Lahaina, Hawaii, on Maui. The fire took 102 lives and “destroyed more than 2,200 structures and caused about $5.5 billion in damages,” according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Cavanaugh, a senior vice president at American Global Strategies, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain what led to the Lahaina fire and what the status of the rebuilding process is a year after the disaster. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Daily Signal Podcast for Wednesday, August 28th. I'm Virginia Allen.
0:10.8	One year ago, a massive fire broke out on the island of Maui, ravaging Lahaina
0:17.2	Hawaii, and unfortunately and tragically taking both homes, property, and over 100 lives.
0:26.1	So what exactly has changed in Lahaina since then?
0:29.8	And how prepared is that community to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy?
0:35.0	Brian Kavanaugh serves as a visiting fellow in Border Security and Immigration at the Heritage
0:40.3	Foundation and also served in the Trump administration.
0:43.7	He visited Maui earlier this month and joins the show to explain what exactly the situation
0:48.8	is on the ground there, how the cleanup is going, and how long it's going to take for Maui to return to some resemblance of normal.
0:56.7	Stay tuned for my conversation with Brian Kavanaugh after this.
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1:38.9	Well in addition to being a visiting fellow here at the Heritage Foundation.
1:43.8	Brian Kavanaugh also serves as Vice President and American Global Strategies.
1:47.8	He's also former Senior Director of Homeland Security Affairs
	...

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