A Maui resident and his wife who escaped the deadly wildfires in Lahaina by jumping into the ocean and treading water for almost three hours say the federal government’s response has been pathetic.
“We’re not being treated like we’re U.S. citizens,” Mike Cicchino told “NewsNation Prime” host Natasha Zouves as his wife Andreza sat beside him.
Following the wildfire three weeks ago in Maui, the couple, like many residents, were left homeless and unemployed when the blaze ripped through their home and business. The wildfires killed at least 115 people, with hundreds still unaccounted for, and destroyed at least 2,000 structures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized one-time grants of $700 per household as part of its initial disaster relief.“We never received the $700, which I mean wouldn’t go very far here in Hawaii,” he said. “We’re mostly getting help from private organizations and nonprofits.
President Joe Biden faced backlash from Republicans upon arriving in Maui 13 days after the fires and making unusual quips while touring the burnt grounds, leaving his critics and some residents saying the president appeared unsympathetic in the aftermath of the devastation.
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