Western Reader
It has been discovered that Maui’s top emergency officials were absent from the island when the devastating wildfires broke out.
These officials were attending an annual meeting of FEMA coordinators on Oahu, another island, leaving Maui to fend for itself during one of its most catastrophic events.
The first fire, known as the Upcounty Fire, ignited in the early hours of August 8. Despite a school near Lahaina being evacuated around 6:40 am, an emergency response call was not held until nearly five hours later.
The fire was prematurely declared ‘contained’ by 9 am, only to spread significantly around Lahaina by 3:30 pm, necessitating an evacuation order for the town.
People Are On The Ground In Maui. THIS IS WHY THEY ORDERED A MEDIA BLACKOUT ⛔️
You’ll Never Guess What DIDN’T BURN In The Lahaina, Maui Hawaii Fires!!
Everything Blue Is UNTOUCHED! Conspiracy Theorists Are NEVER Wrong.
DEWs, Direct Energy Weapons#Hawaii #Maui #MauiFires… pic.twitter.com/Cp0gLaVzgq
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) August 23, 2023
The absence of key officials during this critical time raises serious questions about the state’s preparedness and response to such disasters.
Herman Andaya, who led Maui’s emergency response, was among those absent. He resigned nine days after the fires, citing health reasons, but his departure does little to assuage the concerns of Maui residents who are left questioning the competence of their leaders.
Adding to the tragedy is the fact that emergency preparedness experts had previously downplayed the risk of wildfires, despite significant damage caused by fires in 2018. This complacency resulted in a disaster of epic proportions, with at least 115 people killed and over 1,000 still missing.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier has reported 85 missing persons related to the fire, urging citizens to report any missing family members directly to the police. However, he warned that even after the search for remains is over, there is no guarantee that everyone will be accounted for.
Maui Fire – FEMA Caught Faking Maui Press Conference 👀#Lahaina #fire #Maui #MauiFire #hawaiifire #Hawaii #FEMA pic.twitter.com/FKZq4rAnf9
— HumanDilemma (@HumanDilemma_) August 24, 2023
In a desperate attempt to identify human remains, officials have implored residents to submit DNA samples. Yet, according to Maui County prosecuting attorney Andrew Martin, the number of family members willing to provide DNA samples is significantly lower than seen in other disasters.
The economic impact of the wildfires is also staggering. Moody’s estimates the economic loss to be in the range of $4 billion to $6 billion.
While insurance is expected to cover most of the economic damage, the long-term effects on the island’s economy due to disrupted supply chains, high construction labor costs, and potential ordinance and law requirements are yet to be fully understood.
This disaster is a wake-up call for Hawaii’s officials to reassess their disaster response strategies and ensure that such a catastrophe is not repeated. The people of Maui deserve better.
This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings