Three years after a wildfire devastated the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents continue to struggle with food and housing shortages and physical and mental health challenges.
A new report related to a long-term study about the fire’s effects on 2,500 children and adults underscores the lasting impacts of a natural disaster that killed 102 people and destroyed 2,000 homes and buildings.
“The flames may last for days, but recovery is measured in years,” said Ruben Juarez, an economics professor at the University of Hawaii and co-leader of the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study. “The smoke clears long before health and social consequences disappear.”
The researchers have conducted thousands of interviews and health screenings to understand the social and medical factors shaping the lives of affected families.
