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CAMHD briefing: prolonged displacement, housing loss and coordination gaps in Maui wildfire response
Summary
CAMHD presented findings from post-wildfire behavioral-health work in Maui, reporting that most people surveyed cited housing loss as their primary stressor, that language and cultural needs complicated outreach, and that data-collection and cross-agency coordination were significant challenges.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division presented a summary of behavioral-health response activities and lessons learned from the Maui wildfires, focusing on long-term distress, displacement, and system coordination.
Kaylee Acquaro, CAMHD administrator, told the council that the wildfire’s scale, long periods of missing or unaccounted-for people, and a high share of non–English-first-language residents made the response uniquely complex for Maui communities. CAMHD deployed low-barrier supports such as “talk-story” tents and wellness carts (donated airline carts with snacks and supplies) to check on people sheltering in hotels and to reduce isolation. The division also trialed a disaster triage tool (SciStart/PsyStart) intended to risk-stratify needs for follow-up.
Acquaro said the triage effort yielded 190 records entered into the tool before data collection slowed because many paper forms were not returned for digitization. She noted that 80% of the completed entries identified home loss as the primary stressor. The presentation flagged three main challenges: interrupted data collection and limited connectivity that left many paper records unentered; siloing among responding agencies that limited coordinated action; and delays and repeated contacts for survivors that contributed to retraumatization.
Speakers and members advocated improving cross-agency coordination, developing Hawaii-specific behavioral-health disaster plans that preserve local cultural practices, and using block-grant-funded consulting to develop a robust, behind-the-scenes technical assistance model for future disasters. The presentation also cited a statewide Rural Health Association study and announced upcoming research waves that will include more youth respondents.
CAMHD offered to share slides and study materials with the council and the group affirmed interest in applying lessons learned to planning and layered supports for future disaster response.
