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Maui emergency chief resigns after criticism
The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Herman Andaya, has resigned following intense criticism of his agency’s response to the Lahaina fire, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. The fire has claimed the lives of at least 111 people.
Maui County officials announced Andaya’s resignation on Thursday, citing “health reasons” as the cause. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen expressed the urgency of filling the position quickly in a statement.
The criticism stems from the decision not to activate warning sirens or evacuate residents when the Maui wildfires broke out on August 8. Andaya defended the decision, stating that the public is trained to seek higher ground when the sirens are sounded, which could have led them into the fire. Instead, the agency relied on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to notify residents, but many reported not receiving any alerts due to power outages.
Andaya’s qualifications have also come under scrutiny, with reports stating that he had no background in disaster response. However, Andaya argued that he had prior experience in emergency operations and had undergone numerous trainings.
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.
Meanwhile, the search for victims continues, 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. FEMA, Red Cross, Hawaii National Guard, and U.S. Army reservists are all involved in the recovery efforts.
Three of the four fires that broke out on Maui on August 8 are still burning. Maui County officials announced that two of the fires, previously referred to as a single blaze, have been determined to have distinct origins and will now be reported separately as the Olinda and Kula fires. These fires have destroyed 19 homes and are still being battled by firefighters.
The Lahaina fire, which has burned 3.39 square miles, is now 90% contained with no active threats reported. However, it has damaged or destroyed at least 2,200 structures.
Six victims of the Lahaina fire have been publicly identified, all of whom were residents of Lahaina.
The Maui wildfires have caused significant devastation, and the community continues to come together to support those affected.Maui County is facing significant criticism for its response to the Lahaina fire, which has become the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Herman Andaya, has resigned following the backlash.
Residents reported that they were not evacuated and none of the island’s warning sirens sounded for evacuation when the wildfires broke out on August 8. Andaya defended the decision not to activate the sirens, stating that the public is trained to seek higher ground when the sirens are sounded, which would have led them into the fire. Instead, the agency relied on text alerts sent to cell phones and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) using television and radio. However, with power knocked out in the area, residents reported not receiving any notifications.
Critics have pointed out that Hawaii’s official government website lists “wildfires” as one of the hazards the siren alert system can be used for. Andaya, who had no background in disaster response, was hired over 40 other qualified applicants in 2017. He defended his qualifications, stating that he had experience working with emergency operations officials and had undergone numerous trainings.
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. Meanwhile, the search for victims continues, 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.
There are nearly 500 FEMA personnel, 270 Red Cross workers, 400 Hawaii National Guard members, and 200 U.S. Army reservists on the ground in Maui assisting with the response efforts. Three out of the four fires that broke out on August 8 are still burning, with the Lahaina fire being 90% contained as of Thursday.
Maui County officials also announced that two of the fires, previously referred to as a single blaze, have been determined to have distinct origins and will be reported separately as the Olinda and Kula fires. These fires have destroyed 19 homes and are currently being battled by firefighters on the ground and in the air.
The Lahaina fire has damaged or destroyed at least 2,200 structures and has claimed the lives of at least 111 people. The victims have been identified as Robert Dyckman, Buddy Jantoc, Melva Benjamin, Virginia Dofa, Alfredo Galinato, and Donna Gomes, all of whom were residents of Lahaina.
The Maui County officials are now working to quickly fill the position of MEMA Administrator and improve their response to future emergencies.
