Maui’s emergency sirens failed, no warning for approaching fire; death toll rises to 80.
The Failure of Emergency Sirens on Maui: A Tragic Oversight
In a devastating turn of events, the emergency sirens on Maui remained silent as a destructive wildfire approached residential areas on the island. The Hawaii Emergency Services Administration (HI-EMA) admitted that the sirens, which are tested monthly, failed to alert Hawaiians to the danger that was heading their way. The consequences were dire, with the fire claiming the lives of 80 people and leaving officials fearing that the death toll could rise even higher.
According to The New York Post, the wildfire reached Lahaina earlier this week, catching residents off guard. Lynn Robinson, a resident who tragically lost her home in the blaze, expressed her shock at the lack of warning: “There was no warning. There was absolutely none. Nobody came around. We didn’t see a fire truck or anybody.”
While HI-EMA did send out alerts via text, radio, and TV, many residents either didn’t receive or notice the alerts. It was also unclear why the emergency sirens didn’t initially go off. Governor Josh Green (D-HI) explained that much of the equipment was rapidly destroyed by the fire, leaving authorities scrambling to find alternative means of communication.
As of Saturday, half a dozen fires continue to burn on Maui, but the Lahaina fire, which was the most deadly and destructive, is now 85% contained, as reported by NBC News. The fire forced residents to jump into the Pacific Ocean to save themselves, and the U.S. Coast Guard had to rescue at least 14 people using a 45-foot boat. The inferno left over 2,000 buildings destroyed or damaged, and the estimated cost of rebuilding for Maui County could reach a staggering $5.52 billion.
#WATCH: New video shows the moment a wildfire tore through homes in Lahaina.
READ MORE: https://t.co/hGkr7eRdpv #HINews #HNN pic.twitter.com/U7ZdftV7S3
— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) August 10, 2023
In response to this tragic oversight, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that her office will conduct a comprehensive review of the decisions made by officials before, during, and after the wildfires. The aim is to understand what went wrong and ensure that such a failure never happens again. Lopez expressed her condolences to all those affected by the tragedy and emphasized the importance of learning from this experience.
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