Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel, deployed to aid recovery efforts in the wildfire-stricken city of Lahaina, Maui, have been found residing in 5-star hotels situated miles away from the disaster zone.
This revelation has sparked controversy, as many Lahaina residents have been relocated from shelters to government-funded hotels on the island's west side, while FEMA staff appear to be exclusively occupying luxury resorts in the town of Wailea.
Photographs acquired by the Daily Mail depict FEMA members at the Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria Resort, Fairmont Kea Lani, and Four Seasons Resort. These high-end establishments, with room rates commencing at approximately $1,000 per night, are renowned for their opulence and have previously accommodated some of the world's wealthiest individuals, including numerous Hollywood stars.
FEMA has defended its decision to house its personnel in these upscale resorts, citing the ability to secure government rates as low as $531 per night. The agency issued a statement to the Daily Mail following the release of the photographs, stating, "In the immediate aftermath of the tragic Maui wildfires, FEMA surged personnel, including hundreds of search and rescue teams, to provide relief to the survivors and support to the state and local governments as quickly as possible."
The agency further explained that the selection of hotels was based on the need to centralize all responders for an effective response. "Due to the lack of available lodging, FEMA negotiated government rates, at the lowest possible cost, for staff temporarily staying in the available hotels." As the recovery phase progresses, FEMA assured that its workers would "move to longer term, more affordable responder lodging as they fulfill our commitment to support Maui."
Meanwhile, as the recovery operation escalates, numerous residents have criticized officials for a series of failures before, during, and after the wildfires, which have caused an estimated $5 billion in damages.
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