Staff Reports
The Maui wildfires were absolutely devastating, leaving a trail of destruction and taking the lives of over 100 people, with many more still missing. This tragedy has now been dubbed one of the worst wildfires in American history, even surpassing the Camp Fire that wreaked havoc on California in 2018. And what’s even more shocking is that the likely cause of this disaster was damaged power lines, thanks to strong winds from a hurricane off the coast. It seems like a case of Mother Nature dealing a brutal blow, but the disaster response was an absolute mess.
One of the major issues was the failure of the alarm system to be triggered, leaving residents without any warning to evacuate. Former Maui disaster chief Herman Andaya tried to justify this by pointing out that the alarm system is primarily used for tsunami warnings, not wildfire alerts. But let’s be real, that’s a weak excuse. And to make matters worse, Andaya actually defended President Joe Biden’s lack of action, suggesting that even if the alarm had gone off, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Talk about throwing people under the bus!
Speaking of Biden, while the wildfires were consuming Maui, he was sitting pretty on the Delaware shore, completely ignoring the rising death toll. When asked about it, he had the audacity to say, “No comment.” Well, Mr. President, I think the American people deserve more than that. It’s unacceptable to dismiss a tragedy of this magnitude with just two words. But finally, he’s decided to grace Hawaii with his presence. Better late than never, I guess.
But let’s not forget about the other officials who showed their incompetence during this disaster. Enter Kaleo Manuel, a state water official who seemed more concerned about “water equity” than the fact that people were burning alive. Seriously? While firefighters were desperately trying to battle the flames and save lives, Manuel was busy talking about reverence for water and equity. It’s as if he was living in a different world.
BREAKING: Outraged Americans blasting President @JoeBiden after he said 'no comment' when asked about the catastrophic Maui wildfire, now the deadliest US blaze in over a century. Despite the death toll climbing to about 100, Americans were outraged that Biden remained sunbathing… pic.twitter.com/S3hrBdrpAJ
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) August 14, 2023
As if that wasn’t enough, Hawaiian Electric, the state’s main energy provider, is now under fire for not shutting off power to lines during these high winds. They knew from California’s experience that cutting power to lines in these conditions can help prevent wildfires, but they never bothered to adopt this policy. And to add insult to injury, their utility trucks actually blocked residents’ escape routes. It’s mind-boggling how they could be so negligent.
It’s clear that there were major failures at multiple levels in responding to the Maui wildfires. Lives were lost, countless homes were destroyed, and the community is left devastated. The lack of preparedness and response is simply unacceptable. This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for everyone involved to do better, to learn from their mistakes, and to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people they serve.
