Maui’s emergency management chief, Herman Andaya, has defended the agency’s decision not to sound sirens during last week’s deadly wildfire. The fire, which killed at least 110 people and destroyed thousands of buildings, prompted questions about whether the use of sirens could have saved lives. Andaya explained that in Hawaii, sirens are typically used to alert people to tsunamis, and using them during the fire could have led people to evacuate towards the danger. Instead, Maui relied on text message alerts and emergency broadcasts on television and radio.
Andaya also mentioned that the sirens are primarily located on the waterfront, making them useless for those on higher ground. As criticism mounted, Hawaii Governor Josh Green supported the decision not to use sirens. He ordered a comprehensive review of the emergency response, which will include outside investigators and experts.
In other news, U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be visiting Hawaii on Monday to survey the devastation caused by the wildfire. They will meet with first responders, survivors, and officials at the federal, state, and local levels. The reopening of a main road through town has brought some relief to residents, as frustration was building due to the closure of the highway.
The search for the missing continues, with hundreds of people still unaccounted for. Cadaver dogs have been deployed to assist in the search, covering 38% of the affected area so far. The number of dogs will soon double to 40. Identification of the remains has been slow due to the intensity of the fire, but the names of the first two victims, Robert Dyckman and Buddy Jantoc, have been released.
Heartbreaking stories of those injured or killed in the fire have also emerged. Laurie Allen, who suffered severe burns while trying to escape, is now in a burn center in Oahu. Doctors are hopeful that she will regain partial use of her arms despite sustaining burns to 70% of her body.
The sight of tourists enjoying Maui’s beaches while search and rescue teams continue their efforts has caused outrage among some residents. The stark contrast between leisure activities and the ongoing recovery and identification process has been described as incongruous.
The focus now is on learning from this tragedy to enhance safety measures in the future. Governor Green emphasized the importance of this during a press conference and clarified that the comprehensive review is not a criminal investigation.
As the investigation and recovery efforts continue, the thoughts and prayers of the community are with the families who have lost loved ones and those who are still searching for their missing relatives.