Philippine Nurses Association Maui, HI Wildfire Response Team
July 2024
Philippine Nurses Association
Maui, HI Wildfire Response Team
Philippine Nurses Association of America
New Brunswick
,
NJ
United States
Team Lead: Rowena Nikki Baysa, MBA, MSN, APRN, RN, FNP-C
Team Members
Rosalie " Rose" Tumacder, BSN, RN
Luz Tabajonda, MSN, BSN, RN
Aileen Concepcion, BSN, RN
Teresita Layugan, BSN, RN
Christiana Casio, ADN, RN
Jolly Uclaray MSN, APRN, RN, FNP-C
Genevive Magaoay, BSN, RN
Mary Jean Guira, BSN, RN
Mary Jane Paet, ADN, RN
Jeanelyn Onnagan, ADN, RN
Christine Gumpal, BSN, RN
Rozzeddee De Castro, ADN, RN
Monica Natividad, BSN, RN, CNOR, RNFA
(late) Lucy Porte, MSN, BSN, RN
Team Members
Rosalie " Rose" Tumacder, BSN, RN
Luz Tabajonda, MSN, BSN, RN
Aileen Concepcion, BSN, RN
Teresita Layugan, BSN, RN
Christiana Casio, ADN, RN
Jolly Uclaray MSN, APRN, RN, FNP-C
Genevive Magaoay, BSN, RN
Mary Jean Guira, BSN, RN
Mary Jane Paet, ADN, RN
Jeanelyn Onnagan, ADN, RN
Christine Gumpal, BSN, RN
Rozzeddee De Castro, ADN, RN
Monica Natividad, BSN, RN, CNOR, RNFA
(late) Lucy Porte, MSN, BSN, RN
The Philippine Nurses Association Maui Hawaii (PNAMHI), was founded in May 2019 through the efforts of its founder, Ms. Lucy Porte, and the founding officials bound by a mission to uplift the positive image of Filipino nurses, uphold the social status of its constituent members, promote professional excellence, and contribute to significant outcomes in healthcare and society.
In August 2023, amidst the recovery from the blows of the Covid-19 pandemic, the community was stunned once more by the devastating Lahaina wildfire which resulted in over 100 deaths, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in US history.
About 44% of Lahaina's residents are of Filipino descent. The Lahaina wildfire exposed significant challenges within the deeply rooted Maui Filipino community. Navigating through the complex community assistance programs became a struggle for them, highlighting critical gaps in community support. Language barriers hindered effective communication and access to vital resources. The PNAMHI team recognized this dire situation and extended assistance in addressing the five (5) health determinants that shape community survival and recovery.
Economic Stability:
The aftermath of the Lahaina wildfire has brought economic instability to residents, with livelihoods disrupted and financial burdens heightened. 6,000 people were estimated to be displaced after their properties were damaged by the wildfire. Businesses were massively affected which led to job losses and financial insecurity.
Many Filipino survivors were deemed marginalized, and with diminished tangible and financial assets, they had nothing to rely on during this disaster. This instigated a heightened risk of economic vulnerability.
PNAMHI, led by its founder, the late Lucy Porte, was able to secure $36,000 in financial assistance from local organizations and other PNAA chapters. $25,000 was bequeathed to more than sixty-eight Filipino families for immediate relief. PNAMHI is primed to conduct a post-disaster survey to assess how to use the remaining funds to support the long-term recovery of the Filipino survivors.
Besides economic instability, a looming health concern was food insecurity among the fire survivors. With Binhi at Ani, a Filipino community organization, the PNAMHI team prepared and distributed meals for the fire survivors during the weekends of August up to October of 2023. The team also assisted with the distribution of several hundreds of Maui Food Bank donation boxes to displaced families at the different disaster shelters and recovery centers. They assisted families in completing application forms for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure they receive benefits to afford nutritious food during recovery.
Healthcare Access and Quality:
Access to healthcare is paramount in times of crisis, and the wildfire has disrupted medical services and left many in need of urgent care. PNAMHI worked tirelessly to bridge gaps in healthcare access and quality, advocated for resources, coordinated medical assistance, and provided support to those in need.
The wildfire disaster jostled hundreds of fire survivors to the War Memorial gymnasium, the biggest recovery shelter in north-central Maui. Rowena “Nikki” Baysa, a Nurse Practitioner and PNAMHI’s team leader was one of the first responders who established the triage center at the shelter. She expediently volunteered and treated survivors with smoke inhalations, burns, and other fire-related injuries. Ms. Baysa led the PNAMHI team stepped forward and helped in temporary outreach clinics to provide urgent services to survivors who were unable to leave the west side. Some of the PNAMHI nurses assisted hundreds of victims in refilling prescriptions, signing up for health care coverage, and getting equipped with needed medical equipment.
Education Access and Quality:
The PNAMHI deployed volunteer nurses at the disaster centers located at the Lahaina Civic Center and the Hyatt Hotel. In these hubs, the PNAMHI played a crucial role in translation services while assisting Filipino families to navigate through the complex relief systems. The mostly shy and soft-spoken survivors were handheld by the compassionate nurses who provided them invaluable language translation support to complete forms and answer complicated questions.
The Lahaina wildfire’s brunt extended beyond physical destruction, also affecting educational access and quality for our children and youth. Schools were closed and the displacement of families disrupted learning routines and access to quality education. Realizing this, the PNAMHI team assisted families in connecting with childcare and education organizations. They informed families of their rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, which ensures children uninterrupted access to education and services. They brought families to resource tables like: Hawaii Department of Health, which expanded childcare subsidy program for the victims; PATCH, the state’s designated childcare resource and referral agency; and Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which provided free mental health services to youths who had severe emotional trauma from the wildfire.
Neighborhood and Built Environment:
The wildfire left a profound impact on our neighborhoods and built environment, posing safety risks and hazards. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked together to promptly remove hazardous material, restore water infrastructure, and assist with community sustainability. The PNAMHI provided multilingual volunteers to assist with the translation services. The nurses assisted these agencies while they interviewed the wildfire victims about the fire damages to their homes and businesses. The volunteer nurses also provided these agencies with critical insights regarding cultural considerations.
Social and Community Context:
In the face of adversity, social cohesion and community support are more important than ever. In the months after the wildfire, the PNAMHI collaborated with other community organizations and held two Filipino Resource Fairs that cumulatively served over 4,000 people. These events provided a platform to inform the community about disaster relief and recovery resources and offer crucial translation services. These events served as spaces for communal grieving and prayer, reinforcing the bonds within the Lahaina community. In the end, PNAMHI fostered a sense of belonging and solidarity within our community, providing emotional support, and facilitating connections that will help us heal and rebuild together.
Very recently, PNAMHI also supported policy changes in the State of Hawaii by submitting a testimony in Congress to support HR56 and HCR71 aimed at enhancing meaningful access to healthcare through the provision of Language Assistance Services.
In August 2023, amidst the recovery from the blows of the Covid-19 pandemic, the community was stunned once more by the devastating Lahaina wildfire which resulted in over 100 deaths, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in US history.
About 44% of Lahaina's residents are of Filipino descent. The Lahaina wildfire exposed significant challenges within the deeply rooted Maui Filipino community. Navigating through the complex community assistance programs became a struggle for them, highlighting critical gaps in community support. Language barriers hindered effective communication and access to vital resources. The PNAMHI team recognized this dire situation and extended assistance in addressing the five (5) health determinants that shape community survival and recovery.
Economic Stability:
The aftermath of the Lahaina wildfire has brought economic instability to residents, with livelihoods disrupted and financial burdens heightened. 6,000 people were estimated to be displaced after their properties were damaged by the wildfire. Businesses were massively affected which led to job losses and financial insecurity.
Many Filipino survivors were deemed marginalized, and with diminished tangible and financial assets, they had nothing to rely on during this disaster. This instigated a heightened risk of economic vulnerability.
PNAMHI, led by its founder, the late Lucy Porte, was able to secure $36,000 in financial assistance from local organizations and other PNAA chapters. $25,000 was bequeathed to more than sixty-eight Filipino families for immediate relief. PNAMHI is primed to conduct a post-disaster survey to assess how to use the remaining funds to support the long-term recovery of the Filipino survivors.
Besides economic instability, a looming health concern was food insecurity among the fire survivors. With Binhi at Ani, a Filipino community organization, the PNAMHI team prepared and distributed meals for the fire survivors during the weekends of August up to October of 2023. The team also assisted with the distribution of several hundreds of Maui Food Bank donation boxes to displaced families at the different disaster shelters and recovery centers. They assisted families in completing application forms for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure they receive benefits to afford nutritious food during recovery.
Healthcare Access and Quality:
Access to healthcare is paramount in times of crisis, and the wildfire has disrupted medical services and left many in need of urgent care. PNAMHI worked tirelessly to bridge gaps in healthcare access and quality, advocated for resources, coordinated medical assistance, and provided support to those in need.
The wildfire disaster jostled hundreds of fire survivors to the War Memorial gymnasium, the biggest recovery shelter in north-central Maui. Rowena “Nikki” Baysa, a Nurse Practitioner and PNAMHI’s team leader was one of the first responders who established the triage center at the shelter. She expediently volunteered and treated survivors with smoke inhalations, burns, and other fire-related injuries. Ms. Baysa led the PNAMHI team stepped forward and helped in temporary outreach clinics to provide urgent services to survivors who were unable to leave the west side. Some of the PNAMHI nurses assisted hundreds of victims in refilling prescriptions, signing up for health care coverage, and getting equipped with needed medical equipment.
Education Access and Quality:
The PNAMHI deployed volunteer nurses at the disaster centers located at the Lahaina Civic Center and the Hyatt Hotel. In these hubs, the PNAMHI played a crucial role in translation services while assisting Filipino families to navigate through the complex relief systems. The mostly shy and soft-spoken survivors were handheld by the compassionate nurses who provided them invaluable language translation support to complete forms and answer complicated questions.
The Lahaina wildfire’s brunt extended beyond physical destruction, also affecting educational access and quality for our children and youth. Schools were closed and the displacement of families disrupted learning routines and access to quality education. Realizing this, the PNAMHI team assisted families in connecting with childcare and education organizations. They informed families of their rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, which ensures children uninterrupted access to education and services. They brought families to resource tables like: Hawaii Department of Health, which expanded childcare subsidy program for the victims; PATCH, the state’s designated childcare resource and referral agency; and Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which provided free mental health services to youths who had severe emotional trauma from the wildfire.
Neighborhood and Built Environment:
The wildfire left a profound impact on our neighborhoods and built environment, posing safety risks and hazards. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked together to promptly remove hazardous material, restore water infrastructure, and assist with community sustainability. The PNAMHI provided multilingual volunteers to assist with the translation services. The nurses assisted these agencies while they interviewed the wildfire victims about the fire damages to their homes and businesses. The volunteer nurses also provided these agencies with critical insights regarding cultural considerations.
Social and Community Context:
In the face of adversity, social cohesion and community support are more important than ever. In the months after the wildfire, the PNAMHI collaborated with other community organizations and held two Filipino Resource Fairs that cumulatively served over 4,000 people. These events provided a platform to inform the community about disaster relief and recovery resources and offer crucial translation services. These events served as spaces for communal grieving and prayer, reinforcing the bonds within the Lahaina community. In the end, PNAMHI fostered a sense of belonging and solidarity within our community, providing emotional support, and facilitating connections that will help us heal and rebuild together.
Very recently, PNAMHI also supported policy changes in the State of Hawaii by submitting a testimony in Congress to support HR56 and HCR71 aimed at enhancing meaningful access to healthcare through the provision of Language Assistance Services.