Marylanders Join Hundreds in Hawaii Wildfire Relief Efforts as American Red Cross Calls for All-Hands-on-Deck Response

Marylanders are among hundreds of volunteers on the mainland who are headed to Hawaii to assist with relief efforts after wildfires.

American Red Cross officials told 11 News it's an all-hands-on-deck situation, but they're not estimating yet how long they’ll be on the ground for in Maui and across the islands, saying they'll be there as long as they're needed.

"Our sympathies go out to everyone in Hawaii who are affected by one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in 100 years," said Stephanie Babyak, with the American Red Cross National Capital and Chesapeake Region.

The American Red Cross has volunteers on the ground in Maui, where wildfires left a trail of death, destruction and devastation, and more volunteers are on the way.

"Currently, we have 220 trained disaster responders on the scene, seven of whom are local disaster responders who are working as teams to provide food, shelter and emotional support to families in need," Babyak said.

The local volunteers are coming from D.C, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

"We have about 1,300 new folks who have signed up to volunteer who are being trained to get ready, who have indicated they would want to help as well. So, this is kind of an all-hands situation," Babyak said.

Babyak said the volunteers are also working with officials across all the Hawaiian islands.

"The Red Cross keeps supplies pre-positioned on the islands so that we’re able to help these people immediately, and then, we are working with the local authorities. There is a shelter now set up on Maui and Oahu, and the Oahu shelter is helping visitors, tourists and those evacuees from Maui," Babyak said.

Babyak told 11 News that volunteers are working around the clock, and part of those efforts include trying to connect people with their missing loved ones.

"We can work with our teams on the ground and local officials to possibly get some word for folks who have not been able to connect with people because, as you say, communication is difficult right now and people are in different areas," she said.

The American Red Cross said it's also helping connect people with missing loved ones and that people can call 800-RED-CROSS and select Option 4 to follow the prompts to the Hawaii wildfires.