A devastating wildfire on Maui, Hawaii, has ravaged the town of Lahaina, leaving 111 dead and many more displaced. The emergency management agency administrator, Herman Andaya, has resigned, amidst criticism for not activating the outdoor alert sirens. Andaya stated that he feared the sirens could have caused people to move towards the mountains, where they would have been exposed to the fire.
The decision not to use the sirens has added to the chaos and criticism surrounding the response to the disaster. Water shortages and a clogged escape route further hampered firefighters, while teams had only covered about 58% of the Lahaina area and managed to contain the fire to around 90% as of Thursday night.
Mayor Richard Bissen accepted Andaya’s resignation and stated that he would be placing someone in the key position as quickly as possible. Andaya cited health reasons for his resignation but did not provide further details.
The investigation into the cause of the wildfires is ongoing, but experts say that Hawaii is increasingly at risk from disasters, with wildfires rising fastest, according to an AP analysis of FEMA records. The state is also working to protect local landowners from being “victimized” by opportunistic buyers.
In the meantime, displaced residents are being housed in hotels and provided with services until at least next spring. Contracts with the hotels will last for at least seven months, and the state has vowed to protect local landowners from being “victimized” by opportunistic buyers.
Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green (Via Josh Green/Twitter)
The American Red Cross is providing meals, counselling, financial assistance, and other disaster aid to evacuees, while Airbnb is offering properties for 1,000 people. Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, has instructed the state attorney general to work toward a moratorium on land transactions in Lahaina, even as he acknowledged that this would likely face legal challenges.
The incident has brought widespread criticism, with some residents questioning the lack of an evacuation plan and inadequate communication during the disaster. Corrine Hussey Nobriga, a resident who lost her home, said it was hard to lay blame for a tragedy that took everyone by surprise. “One minute we saw the fire over there,” she said, “and the next minute it’s consuming all these houses.”
As the investigation into the cause of the wildfires continues, it is clear that the emergency response could have been improved. The resignation of Andaya and the commitment to improving emergency preparedness are necessary steps towards preventing similar disasters in the future.
