Honolulu Mayor Thanks New York Firefighters for Disaster Recovery Help

The FDNY All-Hazards Incident Management Team assisted with Kona low storm recovery efforts.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:22pm

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A dramatic, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and white, depicting the skyline of Honolulu shrouded in heavy fog and dramatic cloud formations, with the city's buildings and structures barely visible against the overwhelming power of the natural elements.The overwhelming scale of nature's fury during the Kona low storms underscores the vital role of mutual aid and interagency cooperation in Honolulu's disaster recovery efforts.Honolulu Today

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi expressed gratitude to a 14-member team from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for their support during the ongoing disaster recovery efforts following the recent Kona low storms. The FDNY team arrived on Oahu on March 29 to help coordinate logistics, manage operations, and perform debris removal.

Why it matters

The FDNY team's willingness to travel across the country and the Pacific Ocean to provide assistance demonstrates the spirit of cooperation and mutual aid that is crucial during major disaster response and recovery efforts. Honolulu has also received support from other out-of-state teams, highlighting the importance of interagency collaboration in times of crisis.

The details

The 14-member FDNY All-Hazards Incident Management Team was created after the September 11, 2001 attacks and has since supported major disaster responses nationwide. The team has also worked closely with Hawaii's incident management teams through prior training and collaboration. In addition to the FDNY, the South Carolina State Fire and Palmetto Incident Support Team have also provided resources to the city and will remain on Oahu until Tuesday.

  • The FDNY team arrived on Oahu on Sunday, March 29.
  • The South Carolina and Palmetto teams will remain on Oahu until Tuesday.

The players

Rick Blangiardi

The mayor of Honolulu who thanked the FDNY team for their assistance.

FDNY All-Hazards Incident Management Team

A 14-member team from the New York City Fire Department that provided disaster recovery support to Honolulu following the Kona low storms.

South Carolina State Fire

A team that provided resources to Honolulu and will remain on Oahu until Tuesday.

Palmetto Incident Support Team

A team that provided resources to Honolulu and will remain on Oahu until Tuesday.

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What they’re saying

“'Their willingness to fly across the country and half of the Pacific is a testament to the best of humanity. These proud New Yorkers are the embodiment of what we call the aloha spirit.'”

— Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of Honolulu

The takeaway

The collaborative disaster response efforts between Honolulu and out-of-state teams like the FDNY, South Carolina, and Palmetto demonstrate the importance of mutual aid and interagency cooperation in times of crisis. This spirit of cooperation and support is crucial for effective disaster recovery and rebuilding.