Community Chat

[SilleeMee]

Islands with any number of inhabitants need a plan of escape when disaster strikes. Just like when buildings have fire alarms. People practice evacuation procedures to avoid stuff like this from happening. Someone dropped the ball somewhere down the line. There should have been a plan A, B and C. Planning was lacking that's for sure. I guess they thought it would never happen. Do you think there will be lawsuits?

[Sooner]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Islands with any number of inhabitants need a plan of escape when disaster strikes. Just like when buildings have fire alarms. People practice evacuation procedures to avoid stuff like this from happening. Someone dropped the ball somewhere down the line. There should have been a plan A, B and C. Planning was lacking that's for sure. Do you think there will be lawsuits?

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@SilleeMee Reminds me of Katrina. . . hope is not a plan.

[PinkMomi]

@Sooner 

Unfortunately, there are only so many firefighters to cover the entire island. Maui can't immediately get more help from another county; more firefighters need to fly into the island to help.

Maui firefighters were already battling 3 wildfires at the same time with very high winds - 50 to 70 mph., with gusts up to 80 mph. The island has been in severe drought for several years. With low humidity, these all are the ingredients for wildfires.

The brushfire in upper Lahaina was contained earlier in the day and firefighters moved to another wildfire. Winds reignited the brush and kicked up embers which quickly ignited all of Lahaina. Once buildings, trees, & brush caught on fire, the flames spread and the fire line raged out at a mile per minute!  Fuel tanks, cars, & boats started to explode which fueled the fire more.

The power lines caught on fire and live electricity from downed lines further complicated the situation. The electric company did take precautions for problems resulting from the high winds. No one was expecting an all engulfing fire. Keep in mind that Lahaina in a rural area of West Maui. There is no Master Power switch to turn of electricity from the main Central Maui.

Tragically, the Maui Electric Company had scheduled to replace all the older wooden power line poles with Hurricane resistant metal poles next month. They are keenly aware of the increasing strength of general wind, hurricanes, drought & wildfires exacerbated by climate change.

[NicksmomESQ]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Land developers are offering to buy victims' properties already! Outrage!

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@SilleeMee  It's sickening how people look to profit from other peoples tragedys.

[PinkMomi]

Maui has many wildfires, every year. It's not an anomaly.

All islands were preparing for extremely high winds at the time. Not raging fires. When the statewide warning sirens are used, most would assume a tsunami when hearing it and move inland (toward the wildfire). The emergency response is being investigated.

When electricity goes out, due to the high winds, so does the internet. A warning for the Lahaina fire DID go out on everyone's phones. Unfortunately, not everyone could receive the warning news blast.

Cell towers were burned in the fire, so internet is sketchy at best right now.

Sadly, many children were at home that day, because schools were cancelled due to the high winds. So, many  perished in the Lahaina fire.

Also, Governor Green is working with the State Attorney General and has put a moratorium on purchasing of any of the damaged properties. He is trying as best as he can to keep any resident from being taken advantage of during their time of vulnerability. He vows to make it very difficult for any developer to build and greedily profit off of our loss.

[jbinrwc]

The Greater Good website has multiple ways to contriute as does the Animal Rescue site.  They have flown in a lot of supplies for people and animals.  They are now trying to fly out pets that are already in their shelters to make room for the pets that have been displaced and are in need of medical care after the fire.  I hope that animal lovers like me will go to their websites and contribute whatever they can toward this effort.  Of course, there are many other sites which will welcome contributions.

[ThinkingOutLoud]

Just a reminder to check charities/avenues before donating - how much actually goes to the people/supplies vs administrative costs vs salaries. Some are much better than others. I've heard some pretty unsavory things about some organizations in the past.

[sunshine45]

please check out wck.org.

they are on the ground and feeding those who are displaced and those who are helping and housing the displaced. it is a great organization with a great mission. you can read more about what they are doing in maui via their website. thank you jose andres, your team, and world central kitchen for helping all around the world.

#chefsforhawaii

[Isobel Archer]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

If anyone should be posting about needed help in Maui, it should be the National Weather Service. IMO they are to blame for the disaster. Their warning system failed and people want answers as to why that happened.

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I just read that folks are suing the power company blaming them for the fire saying the lines were not properly maintained nor were they shut off when the fire started.

[THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes]

3 lawsuits have already been filed against Hawaiian Electric, 2 class action and the other representing individuals. 

Allegations in one of the cases:

35.  Defendants knew that the high winds the NWS predicted would topple power
poles, knock down power lines, and ignite vegetation. Defendants also knew that if their overhead electrical equipment started a fire, it would spread at a critically fast rate to the Plaintiffs’ and Putative Class Members’ properties, without warning and without sufficient time for them to safely evacuate themselves and their loved ones, to gather their pets, or to collect their other possessions.

36.   Defendants also knew that their overhead electrical infrastructure did not use
available technologies to mitigate fire risk, including non-expulsion fuses, covered conductors, underground power lines, composite power poles, and fiberglass and other non-wood materials.

Hawaiian 's debt has already been downgraded and the stock has plunged.