I'm happy Emma was able to live in our neighborhood for a year and experience the lifestyle. When I'd take her up to Honolua it was cool to see how the local surfer kids embraced her as a friend right away.
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Fires in Maui
- Thread starter b.r.
- Start date
PM me if anyone you know could use a 3 br 1.5 bath house in Kahului. Not the nicest or the cleanest. I've had numerous people turn it down due the bathroom being too small for his disabled father, another couple was afraid to leave Lahaina because they were afraid they could not return, and another lady who did not return my phone call last night after she left a message.
They're trying. Governor has not yet approved -- bureaucratic red tape is deep and people are getting really, really pissed.
Yep, there seems to be a lot of misguided anger and emotional responses going around online. I get it. But I've seen a lot of rants asking where all the helicopter sorties and what not are. Maybe it would make people feel better to see bustling military operation? But is that really necessary in this situation? As long as all the fires have been contained and utilities are operating as expected outside of the burn zone the priorities should be about shelter, food and supplies for the displaced and recovery of those lives lost before anything else can happen. As far as the recovery goes, thats a slow process. From the sound of it they're literally going from burned out structure to structure and burned out vehicle to vehicle trying to identify human remains among the ashes with cadaver dogs.
Every branch of the military has a giant base half an hour away with every type of mode of transportation possible, none of them can help with those priorities?
Locals non-stop jetski/boating in food, gas, clothes, supplies. There would be more dead if locals didn’t step up.
We knew the military was never ”our neighbors“ and “part of the community” as they claim, just wild to see nothing done.
Airdrop shelters, temporary power, food, etc. They can build a town overnight.
From what @James -Bummer Jim-Devlin is saying, that outside the burn zone the infrastructure is operating as normal with a fully operational airport and harbor. Not trying to knock what the locals are doing and definitely not suggesting that the military can't do more. But a lot of that comes at the request of the Governor whom I'd hope is in regular communications with the federal government re: assistance. I suppose beyond SAR/Recovery what the military could be doing is setting up logistical operations centers, medical/food tents, as well as temporary housing. Though I'm wondering if housing will be necessary with all the hotels and rental properties on the island? Seems like a funding operation to buyout these vacation properties for the next few months to house the displaced may be better than erecting temporary barrack/tent style housing and will help contribute to the tourist economy which is surely gonna take a massive hit. As far as medical goes I haven't heard anything but I'm assuming the local hospitals are fully functional and with the fires under control I wouldn't expect a massive influx of injured at this point.
The army has a facility on Oahu called the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) where they train to respond to scenarios just like this.
How long would it take the navy to send some destroyers to rescue people from the beach or render aid at 30 knots?
From what I understand, and I may be way way off base, it is on the Governor to request military aid. The A/N/AF/M can't just decide to mobilize and take matters in their own hands. They need to be asked and/or given permission by the Governor first, then they can act.
From what I've gleaned from the news accounts I've read and heard on the radio, the early warning and recovery efforts have been hampered by leadership and organization incompetence from both State and Local levels and there is a lot of CYA going on further exasperating the situation.
Very sad for the people of Maui.
From what I've gleaned from the news accounts I've read and heard on the radio, the early warning and recovery efforts have been hampered by leadership and organization incompetence from both State and Local levels and there is a lot of CYA going on further exasperating the situation.
Very sad for the people of Maui.
Going by my experience with Hurricane Sandy, zoning restrictions were relaxed so people could rebuild. At first it seemed like a good thing. Quite frankly they relaxed them too much in some ways......particularly height and setbacks were relaxed so bigger taller houses could be built by greedy bastards. Now there is nowhere to park in the summer because they are putting 5-bedroom airBnB party houses where there were once 2 or 3 bedroom houses.
Not that it's applicable to the current situation but when people were acutely in need of rescuing the coast guard and navy both dispatched assets to the scene with a quickness .
https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3489083/coast-guard-partners-continue-mass-rescue-operations-from-maui-fires/
https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3489083/coast-guard-partners-continue-mass-rescue-operations-from-maui-fires/
Also based on my Hurricane Sandy experience, it took Fema 4-years to review the appeal of my insurance claim and get me $52,000 that I should have gotten at the very beginning. I'd put everything back together out of my own pocket, given up and moved on with my life years before I got that phone call.
From the WSJ…
During the 2019 wildfire season, one of the worst Maui had ever seen, Hawaiian Electric concluded that it needed to do far more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks.
The utility examined California’s plans to reduce fires ignited by power lines, started flying drones over its territory and vowed to take steps to protect its equipment and its customers from the threat of fire.
Nearly four years later, the company has completed little such work. Between 2019 and 2022, it invested less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on the island, regulatory filings show. It didn’t seek state approval to raise rates to pay for broad wildfire-safety improvements until 2022, and has yet to receive it.
apple.news
During the 2019 wildfire season, one of the worst Maui had ever seen, Hawaiian Electric concluded that it needed to do far more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks.
The utility examined California’s plans to reduce fires ignited by power lines, started flying drones over its territory and vowed to take steps to protect its equipment and its customers from the threat of fire.
Nearly four years later, the company has completed little such work. Between 2019 and 2022, it invested less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on the island, regulatory filings show. It didn’t seek state approval to raise rates to pay for broad wildfire-safety improvements until 2022, and has yet to receive it.
Hawaiian Electric Knew of Wildfire Threat, but Waited Years to Act — The Wall Street Journal
Four years ago, the utility said it needed to do more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks. It made little progress, focusing on a shift to clean energy.
apple.news
To summarize, they put more resources towards renewable energy than updating existing infrastructure.From the WSJ…
During the 2019 wildfire season, one of the worst Maui had ever seen, Hawaiian Electric concluded that it needed to do far more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks.
The utility examined California’s plans to reduce fires ignited by power lines, started flying drones over its territory and vowed to take steps to protect its equipment and its customers from the threat of fire.
Nearly four years later, the company has completed little such work. Between 2019 and 2022, it invested less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on the island, regulatory filings show. It didn’t seek state approval to raise rates to pay for broad wildfire-safety improvements until 2022, and has yet to receive it.
Hawaiian Electric Knew of Wildfire Threat, but Waited Years to Act — The Wall Street Journal
Four years ago, the utility said it needed to do more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks. It made little progress, focusing on a shift to clean energy.
I know the military can’t just mobilize and need to be called from the Gov/state, but it’s not good optics. The Military is already in a rough PR spot due to Red Hill, so this won’t help. Whatevers. Locals taking care of each other is beautiful.
I didn’t know this but school was canceled that day due to the winds (or the fire earlier). So lots of kids at home, ones that were old enough to be on their own.
The tragic reality is that there might be a lot of dead kids after this as many are still missing.
I didn’t know this but school was canceled that day due to the winds (or the fire earlier). So lots of kids at home, ones that were old enough to be on their own.
The tragic reality is that there might be a lot of dead kids after this as many are still missing.
Not good optics? I’d go a little farther than that. Locals taking care of locals is a beautiful thing but certainly has its limitations. Involving federal resources from the beginning was the correct call whether the governor requested them or not.
That is tragic. There’s more tragedy to come.