What does Right of Entry (ROE) mean?
With so many government agencies, contractors and stakeholders involved in the cleanup and recovery efforts on Maui, it's easy to get lost in the sea of acronyms. But there’s one important acronym that property owners impacted by the wildfires need to know, and that’s ROE.
ROE stands for Right of Entry. It is a type of official consent that property owners can grant the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its contractors to clear a property of fire debris. Without consent given via the ROE, USACE and its contractors will not be able to assign the property for assessment and debris removal.
The County of Maui is responsible for the ROE process, and www.MauiRecovers.org has a wealth of helpful information, including a portal to start your ROE.
Let’s dig into some common questions about ROE that will help property owners make informed decisions.
Why does the County want me to submit an ROE?
If the property owner does not give this written consent to the County for USACE to enter, they cannot clean the property. The current Hazard Site Assessment phase of the cleanup process, led by Hoʻōla Maui member DAWSON, is nearly complete. It is expected to conclude in January 2024. But without an ROE submitted for each property, USACE and their contractors will be unable to continue into the debris removal phase of cleanup on that particular site.
How do I benefit by completing an ROE?
By completing an ROE, property owners are opting into the government-sponsored private property debris removal program. Under this program, property owners will not have any out-of-pocket costs for debris removal, which must be done at the high standards required by all regulatory agencies responsible for setting and following health and safety standards within their jurisdiction.
As part of the government-sponsored debris removal program, the property owner agrees that any insurance proceeds in their homeowner's insurance policy designated for debris removal will be collected by the County of Maui. Property owners are not required to pay any additional money other than designated debris proceeds in their policies. If the property was not covered by a policy, there is nothing owed by the homeowner. The insurance reimbursement requirement only applies to homeowners’ insurance policies, not renters’ policies. For more information about what assistance is available for renters through FEMA, click here.
What happens if I don't submit an ROE?
If a property owner doesn’t submit an ROE, they are choosing not to use the government-sponsored private property debris removal program. Instead, they will be financially responsible for the fire debris removal, testing and cleanup of their property. They will be required to meet or exceed the standards set by all applicable regulating agencies and must have their plan approved by the County of Maui before beginning cleanup. Learn more here.
How do I submit an ROE form?
There are three ways property owners can submit their ROE form: online, in-person, or over the phone. Property owners can fill out and submit an ROE application via the Maui Wildfire Debris Cleanup Right of Entry (ROE) Portal. Property owners can also visit one of the in-person Right of Entry Collection Centers from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at the Lahaina Civic Center, the Kalana O Maui Building Lobby in Wailuku, or CNHA’s Kākoʻo Maui office at the Maui Mall in Kahului. Click here to view Maui County’s list of the information and supporting documents you’ll need to have ready. Lastly, property owners can call the State of Hawaiʻi Call Center at 808-727-1550 and someone will take in your information over the phone to help you complete your ROE form.
What information do I need to submit an ROE form?
To submit an ROE form, property owners will need:
Property information, including the property’s tax map key, address and site sketch
Contact information of the property owner, including phone number and email address
Insurance information, including the declaration page, any debris removal coverage section and any auto insurance
Signatures and verification of all owners, trustees or authorized agents of the property
The more information property owners can provide about the property and any items on the property, the easier it will be for USACE and its contractors to conduct the site assessment and begin the debris removal process. List any items like septic tanks, leach fields, survey monuments, cesspools, sites of personal or family significance, cultural artifacts, or any other important structures on the property.
Renters should stay in touch with the owners of the residence if they have questions about the ROE process or want to participate in marking important locations on the property site map for cleanup crews to be aware of.
Where can I get help with filling out my ROE form?
Visit one of the three Right of Entry Collection Centers to receive in-person assistance with an ROE form. USACE staff with special knowledge about the debris removal process will also be available to answer questions. The centers are located at:
Lahaina Civic Center, Disaster Recovery Center
1840 HI-30 (Honoapi’ilani Hwy), Lahaina, HI 96761
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday - SaturdayKalana O Maui Building Lobby, County of Maui
200 S. High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday - SaturdayKāko‘o Maui - Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA)
70 Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului (Maui Mall Village, next to Subway)
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday - Saturday
Applicants can call the State of Hawaiʻi Call Center for assistance in filling out an ROE application at 808-727-1550, 6am to 10pm HST, seven days a week.
For more complicated questions that require advice from an attorney - things like houses with multiple owners, or properties in probate - the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi and its pro bono partners are available to assist community members for free. Visit www.legalaidhawaii.org or call 808-536-4302, Monday - Friday, 9am-11:30am or 1pm-3pm.
What happens after my ROE form is submitted?
Depending on whether the ROE form was submitted electronically via the ROE portal or on paper, the form will be electronically entered into the County of Maui’s system, and property owners will receive an email from noreply@mauistrongrecovery.org confirming the ROE form was submitted. It is recommended to create an account on the ROE Portal so property owners can receive notifications when their ROE form status changes.
Once the ROE form is submitted, the County of Maui will check that the property owner listed on the ROE form matches the property owner on the deed, as well as check the ROE form for completeness.
Once the ROE form is vetted and approved by the County of Maui, it is passed on to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for debris removal.
Is the ROE form for commercial properties the same as residential properties?
In this situation, yes. FEMA is covering commercial property cleanup due to the devastating nature of the Maui wildfires. The ROE process is the same for both commercial and residential properties.
What is the deadline to turn in an ROE form?
Property owners have 30 days after the last re-entry date to submit an ROE.
Have more questions about ROE? Visit Maui Recovers at www.mauirecovers.org/debrisremoval for more information and to access the ROE portal.
