Maui man slams Biden admin’s response to wildfires

A Maui resident who spent nearly three hours treading water in the ocean to escape the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century has slammed the Biden administration’s response to the disaster, insisting: “We’re not being treated like we’re US citizens.”

Mike Cicchino and his wife Andreza said they were left homeless and unemployed after the devastating wildfire that ripped through Lahaina earlier this month destroyed both their home and business.

“We feel like we just got out of a fight for our life. Now, we’re back in another fight for our life to find a home, to find a place to rest our head at night,” Cicchino told News Nation.

“We’re not getting any help from (the) federal government so far.”

In the aftermath of the wildfires — which killed at least 115 people, with hundreds still missing — the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized one-time grants of $700 per household as part of its initial disaster relief.

Cicchino, however, said he hasn’t yet seen the cash.

“We never received the $700, which I mean wouldn’t go very far here in Hawaii,” he said. “We’re mostly getting help from private organizations and nonprofits.”

“I can’t speak for everybody, but we feel like we’re not getting any help out here at least from the federal government,” Cicchino continued. “They are helping, from what I understand, down on the ground to look for bodies, to clear out rubble, those types of things. But as far as the people that were displaced, financially they’ve been no help.”

Cicchino said the fires haven’t just left a financial toll on Maui residents — but also an emotional one.

“Being on fire, not knowing where land is, at points, the currents pulling us out where we can’t touch the ground,” Cicchino said as he recalled how he and his wife ran into the ocean when the fire started to tear through their neighborhood.

“At times, I remember just telling her to make sure that she saves herself. ‘Don’t worry. If I start drowning out here, you save yourself,’” he said of his wife.

“It’s the most terrifying experience of our life.”

The Biden administration has faced backlash from Hawaiians in recent weeks over what they deem to be an incredibly slow response to offer up assistance.

President Biden, 80, was also ripped by some residents — and Republican lawmakers — for waiting 13 days to visit the island.

The White House, however, pushed back, insisting the president had acted quickly and kept in close touch with the governor and other emergency officials as the crisis unfolded.

FEMA said last week it had distributed more than $8.5 million in aid some 8,000 affected families, including $3.6 million in rental assistance.