After Doing Everything they can to Force Lahaina Fire Victims to move to the Mainland, Maui Finally Accepts a few FEMA Trailers
CB: … A 63-acre parcel of privately owned land in West Maui could become the site of a temporary group housing project with 214 modular units for displaced survivors of the Aug. 8 fires….
The group housing project won’t be necessary if FEMA can secure enough direct leases for all eligible households. But the agency is moving forward with the review to get it rolling just in case.
“This is the absolute last resort,” FEMA spokesman Victor Inge said Tuesday. “But when we go into a community where there’s been devastation, all the options are on the table.”…
(CLUE: Normally, FEMA trailers are the first resort. They are delivered by the trainload to a disaster area within days.)
State Sen. Angus McKelvey, who represents West Maui, said he hopes the temporary group housing project does move forward, but with “dignified” modular homes — not “the next generation of trailers.”
(CLUE: Meaningless rhetoric.)
Out of 25 evaluated properties around the island, the Kaanapali location along Kakaalaneo Drive was the top choice of FEMA, which “worked closely with state and county officials.”
It is about 3 miles from Lahaina. There is the ability to tie into utility connections being established for the new West Maui Hospital and Medical Center. And owner Kaanapali Land Management Corp. is willing to lease the property to FEMA….
Of the other evaluated properties, 22 were dismissed as not feasible. Two are still under review: the Leialii Group Site in Lahaina and the Waikapu Country Town Group Site in Wailuku….
(CLUE: 2 other locations available for trailer parks.)
. As of Tuesday, with the contracted assistance of three out-of-state property management companies, 1,360 direct lease units were under contract.
But to date, only 128 families have signed leases and are ready to move in….
read … FEMA Is Developing A 'Last Resort' Plan To House Maui Fire Survivors In Kaanapali - Honolulu Civil Beat
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment
For Alternative Temporary Transportable Housing Unit Group Site
Known as the Kaʻanapali Temporary Group Site
FEMA DR-4724-HI
News Release from FEMA, Jan 24, 2024
Under the Aug. 10, 2023, major presidential disaster declaration for the Hawaiʻi wildfires and high winds (FEMA-DR-4724-HI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will construct a temporary group housing site for displaced individuals and families. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, FEMA has prepared a draft environmental assessment for a proposed Alternative Temporary Transportable Unit (ATTHU) group housing site. FEMA hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to construct the Kaʻanapali Temporary Group Site.
The proposed action is in response to the wildfires and high winds in Maui County for the incident period beginning Aug. 8, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2023. The president approved the major disaster declaration Aug. 10.
The proposed action includes developing a 63-acre site for about 214 ATTHUs to be located at Kakaʻalaneo Drive, Lahaina, Hawaiʻi 96761 (Latitude: 20.940936; Longitude: -156.684149). Activities may include, where necessary, site clearing, grading, road construction, the placement of utilities (electricity, telephones, water, and sewer), and the transport and installation of housing units to the site. The group site, developed under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, is intended to be operational for up to 18 months and extended depending on the needs of the disaster.
The draft environmental assessment summarizes the purpose and need for the project, site selection process, alternatives considered, the no-action alternative, the affected environment, and potential environmental consequences of the project. It assesses the potential impacts of the proposed action on the human and natural environment.
The draft environmental assessment was prepared in accordance with NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1500–1508), FEMA’s Instruction 108-1-1 for implementing NEPA, the National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988 (‘Floodplain Management”), Executive Order 11990 (“Protection of Wetlands”), and the implementing regulations of FEMA.
Additional detailed descriptions of the alternative proposed actions may be reviewed in the draft environmental assessment conducted by FEMA, which is available for public review at the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/environmental-historic/region. Printed copies are available for viewing or photocopying at the following location:
Lahaina Civic Center Gymnasium
1840 Honoapi‘ilani Highway
Lahaina, Hawai‘i 96761
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sundays
Due to the emergency nature of this action, the public comment period will be limited to seven days, ending Feb. 2, 2024. Written comments on the draft environmental assessment can be mailed or emailed to the contact listed below. If emailing, please remember to include “Temporary Housing Kaʻanapali Site” in the subject line. If no substantive comments are received by the conclusion of the comment period, the draft environmental assessment and associated Finding of No Significant Impact will become final and no additional public notice will be published. Substantive comments received will be addressed, as appropriate, in the Final Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact, which will be posted to FEMA’s NEPA repository, concluding the NEPA review.
Mail comments to:
FEMA Region IX EHP
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052
Email: fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov
FEMA works to ensure that information is accessible to all of our customers. If you are unable to access any information presented in the document, please contact us by email at: fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov
All other questions regarding disaster assistance or the availability of emergency housing should be directed to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
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Subject: CORRECTION DR-4724 - FEMA Environmental Assessment Comment Period Notification - Temporary Group Housing Site
Good Morning/Afternoon,
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), under the Presidentially Declared Disaster FEMA-DR-4724-HI, will construct a temporary group housing site to provide suitable temporary housing opportunities for individuals and families displaced under the major disaster declaration for the 2023 Hawaii wildfires and high winds (FEMA-4724-DR-HI) in Maui County. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, FEMA has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed Alternative Temporary Transportable Unit (ATTHU) group housing site. FEMA has provided notice to the public of its intent to construct the Kaʻanapali Temporary Group Site.
This action was included as a courtesy by OPSD in the 1/23 publication of The Environmental Notice.
We have identified an error in the e-mail address provided for comment submittal, and have provided a correction below. Given the error, we will be extending the comment period until February 2, 2024.
The correct e-mail address for comment submittals is: fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov
The draft EA is available for public review at the FEMA website: National Environmental Policy Act Repository | FEMA.gov
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
With appreciation,
Environmental and Historic Preservation I DR-4724 Federal Emergency Management Agency