Head of Maui Emergency Management Agency Resigns After Criticism of Response to Deadly Wildfire
Maui County, Hawaii – In the aftermath of a deadly wildfire that claimed the lives of at least 111 people, Herman Andaya, the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), has resigned from his post. The wildfire, which started on August 8, has been deemed the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century.
The Maui County officials announced Andaya’s resignation, citing “health reasons” as the cause. Andaya’s response to criticism regarding the agency’s preparedness and evacuation efforts during the Lahaina fire was met with significant backlash. Residents reported that they were not adequately evacuated, and none of the island’s warning sirens sounded for evacuation.
When asked about not activating the sirens, Andaya responded, “I do not regret it.” He explained that the sirens are typically used for warning of tsunamis or approaching storms and that the protocol is to use Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for wildfire incidents. However, residents reported receiving no text alerts or television and radio notifications due to power outages in the area.
Andaya’s qualifications for the position were also called into question. Local news site Maui Now reported in 2017 that he was hired over 40 other qualified applicants. Andaya defended himself, stating that he had experience as the Maui County mayor’s chief of staff and had gone through numerous trainings with emergency operations officials.
The cause of the wildfires is still under investigation, and the Hawaii attorney general’s office has launched an investigation into the local government’s response. The search for victims has intensified, with federal personnel using cadaver dogs to comb through the debris area. The number of people unaccounted for is estimated to be between 1,100 and 1,300.
Additional resources have been deployed to assist with the wildfires. Nearly 500 FEMA personnel, 270 Red Cross workers, 400 Hawaii National Guard members, and 200 U.S. Army reservists are on the ground in Maui. Three of the four fires that broke out on August 8 are still burning, with two of them now reported separately as the Olinda and Kula fires.
The Lahaina fire, which burned 3.39 square miles, is 90% contained as of Thursday. It has caused significant damage to over 2,200 structures. Authorities have publicly identified six victims, all of whom were Lahaina residents.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stated that a new MEMA Administrator will be appointed as quickly as possible to address the ongoing crisis.