Defiant Maui Emergency Leader, Who Has No Experience In Crisis Management, Says Activating The Island's Emergency Sirens Would Have Saved NO ONE -

The Daily Mail ^ | 08/17/23 | Sophie Mann

[Enlightened1]

• Emergency Management chief Herman Andaya defended his decision not to set off warning sirens as the deadly wildfire barreled toward Lahaina 
• Andaya said Wednesday Hawaiians are trained to seek higher ground when they hear those sirens, which are usually used for tsunami warnings 
• In the wake of the fire that killed at least 110 people, some are questioning Andaya's fitness for his position

The man in charge of Maui's Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday he does not regret not activating warning sirens as the fatal wildfire swept across the island.

Chief Herman Andaya said he opted to send out alerts via mobile devices, radio waves, television and the county's opt-in resident alert system - but not via siren.

Despite the claim the warning sirens could have saved hundreds of people who instead burned in the deadly fire, Andaya argued the sirens are generally used for tsunami warnings and Hawaiians are trained to seek higher ground when they go off, which in this case would have led them toward the blazing inferno.

There is growing fear that many children are among the dead - as they were left home alone when schools delayed opening due to power outages before the storm. 

Andaya defended his experience and qualification for office during a mid-week press conference held by Governor Josh Green. 

'Had we sounded the siren that night, we're afraid that people would have gotten mauka [toward the mountains] and if that was the case, then they would have gone into the fire,' he said.

[jean michael]

He’s an insular idiot.

If that fire had approached the town at 2 am instead of 5 pm no one would dare say you can’t blare a siren because it’s not a tsunami. It’s shocking to know this many people died on their feet, and not in a deep slumber.

As Emergency Leader, he should have done his job training the public. It’s not the first fire in Maui, and all the islands have a dry side. Every time there is a public test, the “it’s a test” message should include the reminder that a siren is a general warning of danger. He’s not Tsunami leader, he’s Emergency leader.

It’s easy enough once you hear a siren to know you need to look at your phone, look at the tv, or open the curtains. No one runs towards smoke and flames. No one needs to memorize different chimes. Just sound the alarm. No one says there were even fire trucks blaring. Those people were on their own.

[1Old Pro]

It’s not the first fire in Maui, and all the islands have a dry side.

AND, fire is often a threat. A friend was telling me about his property on the big island, all homes in the development were equipped with pumps for their pool water and hoses for fire.

[markman46]

typical goverment employee, now better then the citizens.
you sounds the sirens and people are going to know the fire is close and oyu can smell the smoke..

[GailA]

btt

[minnesota_bound]

He choose ‘sacred water’ over people’s lives.