MAUI, Hawaii (KLTV) - Lufkin native Julia Collmorgen and her neighbor Caitlin Carroll are taking shelter east of their lost homes in Lahaina on the island of Maui. Both say they have not been able to go back since they evacuated.

“So that’s been something that’s been very hard to kind of comprehend. We’ve seen the videos but we haven’t seen it ourselves.” said Carroll.

Collmorgen added, “It’s very much like a lack of closure right now for a lot of us.”

Carroll said they have been taking it day by day, which comes with difficulty to plan ahead.

“I don’t know where I’m going to be sleeping next week or tomorrow or if I’m going to be able to get a car or what; like, there’s so many uncertainties.”

However, the Maui community has not let that stop them.

“I know that a lot of people that I know lost their homes and showed up at work. We both work in the boating community, showed up at work the next day to say ‘let’s bring supplies on the boats since the highway shut down. Let’s do this.’ So we were loading up boats the next days.” said Carroll.

“The community got straight to work so well and so immediately right after, that the westside actually does at this moment have a surplus of supplies, that we just need help with the community and the federal aid to disperse it at the moment.” Collmorgen said.

As far as an action plan to rebuild, Carroll said, “This is going to be years and years and years of work to rebuild, so please keep Maui in your thoughts for as long as possible.”

Gray and The Salvation Army team up to bring ‘Hope for Hawaii’

To donate: Text FIRERELIEF to 51555 or visit https://fundraise.salvationarmyhawaii.org/give/508960/#!/donation/checkout

All the designated gifts – 100% - will be used to support those affected by the disaster.

Message and data rates may apply. For more details, go to https://fundraise.salvationarmyhawaii.org/give/508960/#!/donation/checkout

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