Maui Hawaii Wildfires, 97 dead, Aug 2023

[10ofRods]

Wait. I thought they wanted people out of there so the aid workers can do their jobs?

Yeah, well, I think the government of Hawaii FINALLY grokked that 80-90% of Maui's income is from tourism.

And 80-70% of Hawaii's income is from Maui.

Aloha, Tourists! Extreme tourism people must be gleeful.

Pretty sure that 25-30% of Maui hotels are intensely affected by the wildfire.

And...while people might still book Ka'ana'pali, the main reason to go to West Maui is Lahaina.

I'd love to know 1) how many Hawaiian natives want tourism to resume vs. 2) how many local businesses are owned by off-islanders, who want business to resume. It's about 1 tourist per 1 local resident for the Lahaina region - and that says a lot.

MOO.

 

[Gemmie]

The administrator of Maui’s emergency management agency has resigned, citing health reasons, Maui County said in a news release Thursday, nine days after the deadliest US wildfire in more than 100 years began on the Hawaiian island.

The resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya is effective immediately, the county said.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible, and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/us/hawaii-maui-wildfires-death-toll-thursday/index.html

 

[Gemmie]

Screengrab from vid: MSN

 

[airportwoman]

Firefighting with bottled water?

I hope that's enough.

If they find a few embers, perhaps it is.

 

[otto]

The administrator of Maui’s emergency management agency has resigned, citing health reasons, Maui County said in a news release Thursday, nine days after the deadliest US wildfire in more than 100 years began on the Hawaiian island.

The resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya is effective immediately, the county said.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible, and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/us/hawaii-maui-wildfires-death-toll-thursday/index.html

He said that sounding the sirens would cause people to run uphill - as they are trained in a tsunami. That was the original purpose of the sirens, tsunamis. However, people wouldn't run very far up the mountain before seeing a wall of black smoke and evacuating a different way.

He should have sounded the sirens. That was the last line of defence in the event that power and cell service was disrupted.

Maui's top emergency official is out after failing to sound sirens as fires approached

Herman Andaya, administrator of Maui’s Emergency Management Agency, had defended his decision not to use the sirens.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[otto]

View attachment 441632

Screengrab from vid: MSN

Right. The people of Lahaina would hear the sirens, look at the water, look uphill, and run uphill. Absurd.

There's also the statement that turning off the power meant turning off the water - a fire hazard. Because the power has been off since the fire sparked, it is unsafe to drink tap water in Lahaina. The power went off when 29 power lines were blown over. The wires remained live after power was disrupted, sparking fires.

Infrastructure and power grid were slated for upgrade in 2017, received funding in 2019, but instead of upgrading the system, Hawaiian Electric gave generous dividends to investors.

Hawaii’s top power utility accused of years of mismanagement before the deadly wildfires

In a new lawsuit first obtained by NBC News, Hawaiian Electric is accused of failing to take action to mitigate the chance of disaster.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Gemmie]

Right. The people of Lahaina would hear the sirens, look at the water, look uphill, and run uphill. Absurd.

There's also the statement that turning off the power meant turning off the water - a fire hazard. Because the power has been off since the fire sparked, it is unsafe to drink tap water in Lahaina. The power went off when 29 power lines were blown over. The wires remained live after power was disrupted, sparking fires.

Infrastructure and power grid were slated for upgrade in 2017, received funding in 2019, but instead of upgrading the system, Hawaiian Electric gave generous dividends to investors.

Hawaii’s top power utility accused of years of mismanagement before the deadly wildfires

In a new lawsuit first obtained by NBC News, Hawaiian Electric is accused of failing to take action to mitigate the chance of disaster.

www.cnbc.com

I still like my suggestion upthread where they have a separate alert sound for fire like NZ. It's confusing for folks since it's similar (or if you're a tourist, you wouldn't know the difference), but every 4 tones it says "Fire warning". That'll sure make things crystal clear for folks!!!

I don't understand why lessons learned from CA fires didn't become part of their process. My guess? They don't know what those lessons learned were (not paying attention outside of their immediate area). Or if they did pay attention, it seems like it was a "Nah, HI's different, that won't work here" response.

All MOO

 

[JerseyGirl]

Plane full of Maui shelter pets arrives in Portland to find forever homes after wildfires

Following the devastating Maui wildfires, more than 130 shelter pets are Portland-bound from Hawaii for a second chance at a forever home.The pets arrived Frida

katu.com

The Oregon Humane Society, which will be hosting the pets, says that these animals were already in Maui shelters and looking for homes prior to the fires. However, by moving these pets to Oregon, space and resources are freed up to take in lost and injured pets from the diaster and reunite them with owners.

Oregon Humane Society is working with Greater Good Charities, Southwest Airlines, and other partners for this effort.

 

[mickey2942]

A food truck owner on Maui said it's irresponsible for people like Jason Momoa to tell tourists the island is closed because local businesses that weren't destroyed are now struggling too

Maui food truck owner Daniel Kalahiki said Lahaina is closed but small businesses on other parts of the island still need tourism business.

www.insider.com

People should still visit Maui, and even consider "volunteering" while on vacation. I know a lot of people who go on vacation to Maui, most of them, "volunteering" is planning a luncheon event to raise money for Junior League. Not exactly hands on work.

 

[wary]

The administrator of Maui’s emergency management agency has resigned, citing health reasons, Maui County said in a news release Thursday, nine days after the deadliest US wildfire in more than 100 years began on the Hawaiian island.

The resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya is effective immediately, the county said.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible, and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/us/hawaii-maui-wildfires-death-toll-thursday/index.html

Maui Wildfires Latest: Lahaina Reopens to Residents

Some Lahaina residents will be allowed to visit what’s left of their homes for the first time since wildfires swept across Maui.

www.nytimes.com

Considering that he’s the one who said that not using the emergency sirens was the right thing to do, well, yes, ‘health reasons’ is a very reasonable excuse.

MOO

 

[LaborDayRN]

Maui Wildfires Latest: Lahaina Reopens to Residents

Some Lahaina residents will be allowed to visit what’s left of their homes for the first time since wildfires swept across Maui.

www.nytimes.com

Considering that he’s the one who said that not using the emergency sirens was the right thing to do, well, yes, ‘health reasons’ is a very reasonable excuse.

MOO

It sounds to me like he's trying to justify his decision. He should have sounded the alarm IMO but I image the weight of all these deaths is weighing heavily on him. I mean, I can't imagine how it would not.

 

[airportwoman]

A food truck owner on Maui said it's irresponsible for people like Jason Momoa to tell tourists the island is closed because local businesses that weren't destroyed are now struggling too

Maui food truck owner Daniel Kalahiki said Lahaina is closed but small businesses on other parts of the island still need tourism business.

www.insider.com

People should still visit Maui, and even consider "volunteering" while on vacation. I know a lot of people who go on vacation to Maui, most of them, "volunteering" is planning a luncheon event to raise money for Junior League. Not exactly hands on work.

I donated to the Maui chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and did so before I found out that the entire neighborhood where the Habitat homes had been built was destroyed. I like to donate to them, because they provide long-term assistance, and I would imagine that a lot of college students are going to spend their Christmas vacation there, doing this, in a few months.

 

[vls12345]

Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags

 

[Charlot123]

Plane full of Maui shelter pets arrives in Portland to find forever homes after wildfires

Following the devastating Maui wildfires, more than 130 shelter pets are Portland-bound from Hawaii for a second chance at a forever home.The pets arrived Frida

katu.com

The Oregon Humane Society, which will be hosting the pets, says that these animals were already in Maui shelters and looking for homes prior to the fires. However, by moving these pets to Oregon, space and resources are freed up to take in lost and injured pets from the diaster and reunite them with owners.

Oregon Humane Society is working with Greater Good Charities, Southwest Airlines, and other partners for this effort.

I was talking to a colleague about Hawaii Humane Society today. Several of my other “cat people” expressed interest in adopting cat victims of Maui fires. If you have any links, could you please let me know?

 

[Charlot123]

Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags

Rest In Peace. What a horrible demise.

 

[dotr]

I was talking to a colleague about Hawaii Humane Society today. Several of my other “cat people” expressed interest in adopting cat victims of Maui fires. If you have any links, could you please let me know?

Aug 19 ' 23

Cats flown in from Maui available for adoption in Seattle area

Dozens of Maui cats have been transported to make room on the island for animals separated from their owners due to the deadly wildfires.

www.seattletimes.com

Dozens of shelter cats from Maui arrive at PDX airport

The Oregon Humane Society is helping create more space at shelters on Maui after wildfires devastated the island.

www.kgw.com

'PORTLAND, Ore. — Dozens of shelter animals from Maui are arriving in Portland on Friday. The Oregon Humane Society is helping create more space at shelters on the island after wildfires devastated the area, burning thousand of homes and businesses.
More than 110 people have died and many others are still missing, including thousands of animals.

The Maui Humane Society is expecting an influx of injured or displaced pets. Around 136 animals that were at the shelter prior to the wildfires are being transported to other shelters in the United States. The Oregon Humane Society is welcoming 92 cats and kittens.
"These are shelter pets who were looking for homes before the wildfires and by clearing out the animals that are in shelters in Maui, it frees up their resources to be able to help lost sick and injured pets and reunite them with their owners," said Laura Klink, public information manager for the Oregon Humane Society. '

How to Help Pets and Rescue Animals Affected by the Hawaii Wildfires

The Maui Humane Society is asking for the public’s help in securing supplies and funding to help pets displaced by the wildfires near Lahaina, Hawaii

people.com

''The Hawaiian Humane Society and the Maui Humane Society are asking for the public's help securing supplies and funding for the animals displaced by the devastating wildfires.

According to Wednesday's Facebook post from The Maui Humane Society, the shelter was over capacity before the fires and is now "running extremely low on space, supplies, and fosters" as it tries to help incoming pets.''

 

[Cryptic]

Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags Maui locals claim death toll is 480 as morgues run out of body bags

The claim seems to make sense.

The volunteer group below states that they have a list of 950 people who have not been located. The article also states that a certain number of people on the list are ok, but are not aware that they are on a missing list and have not contacted anyone to get their names removed.

As Maui death toll rises, number of missing remains unclear

The number of people who are missing or accounted for is challenging to track in the wake of the Maui fires.

abcnews.go.com

The totality, however, seems dreadful and points towards hundreds of deaths:

- There is only one commercial ferry off Maui. This ferry goes to Lanai, an island with only 3,500 inhabitants. As a result, it is unlikely that substantial numbers of the missing are on Lanai and have not checked in with anybody.

- In an era of computerized anything, departing plane whether carrying locals or tourists would have computerized passenger manifests for each flight. These manifests could then be cross referenced with lists of missing to eliminate those who left with out "checking in".

- Maui is a relatively small place in the cellular age. Lahaina residents and Lahaina based tourists remaining on the island are likely aware of requests to "check in" and have the means, or can obtain the means to do so.

In short.... 480 deaths may well be accurate. The list with 950 missing could be largely accurate. Furthermore, the 950 missing could be an under count. Hawaii evidently has alot of official and unofficial "airbnb" type rentals.

The unofficial ones especially may attract tourists who went to Lahaina on impulse from other islands and whose relatives are not aware of it. Likewise, the owners of the unofficial ones might not have complete information on guests other than: Twenty something year old white guy and his girlfriend. Maybe "Steve"? Mainlanders. Paid in cash. Seemed nice.

And... Hawaii has evidently staged various crack downs on airbnb type rentals- drive up real estate prices for locals, but other locals rely on them for income. So, no easy solutions. But... some unofficial air bnb type owner / operators maybe reluctant to come forward.

 

[BeachSky]

DBM

 

[JerseyGirl]

Maui wildfires update: Fires not spreading forward, despite rumors; death toll at 114 | Big Island Now

The Maui Fire Department reported the night of Aug. 18 that fire activity has been limited to isolated hot spots within the existing footprint.

bigislandnow.com

Three additional deaths were reported by the Maui Police Department on Friday, increasing the total number of confirmed wildfire fatalities to 114. Police did not release the identities of any new individuals Friday.

 

[Gemmie]

It sounds to me like he's trying to justify his decision. He should have sounded the alarm IMO but I image the weight of all these deaths is weighing heavily on him. I mean, I can't imagine how it would not.

I think some people that step down after a huge issue they were responsible for, citing "health reasons", do so in order to save face. He may have been pressured to go and wanted to save face as I said. JMO