WASHINGTON - The Hawaii National Guard is planning to airlift supplies to isolated residents on Maui as soon as their needs are ascertained, a military official said from the state's capital today.
Local authorities are compiling supply needs lists from Maui residents, Hawaii National Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony said from Honolulu during a phone interview with American Forces Press Service.
Items requested by Maui residents will likely range from fuel needed to power generators to food and other necessities, he said.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Hawaiian Islands Oct. 15. No deaths were reported. Besides some broken bones, no one was seriously injured, Anthony reported.
Damage among the islands varied, Anthony said, noting the earthquake damaged some roads and bridges on Maui. Electric power was off on the island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, for 12 hours after the quake ended.
Once residents' needs are ascertained, National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters will be used to ferry the supplies from Oahu to Maui, Anthony said. The airlift could start by Nov. 5, he said.