Herman Andaya, the administrator of Maui’s emergency management agency, has resigned just a day after defending his decision not to sound outdoor alert sirens during a ferocious wildfire that raged through the island. The fire, which has claimed 111 lives and left many more missing, has been the deadliest in the US in over a century.
Andaya had said that deploying the sirens could have caused people to go towards the mountains, which would have put them in harm’s way. He also cited unspecified health reasons for his resignation, effective immediately.
The incident has sparked intense criticism from residents, who are angry about the lack of sirens and inadequate evacuation routes. The fire moved quickly through the town of Lahaina, with many residents trapped and unable to escape.
The decision not to use the sirens has emerged as a potential misstep, part of a series of communication issues that added to the chaos. Hawaii has one of the largest outdoor alert siren systems in the world, which is designed to alert people to natural disasters such as tsunamis and fires.
However, Andaya has defended his qualifications for the job, saying that he was vetted and had experience and qualifications. He has also stated that he was not appointed to his former role, but was interviewed by seasoned emergency managers.
Herman Andaya (Via Herman Andaya/Twitter)
Despite Andaya’s resignation, the investigation into the government’s response to the wildfire is ongoing. An outside organisation will conduct an impartial review of the response, and officials intend to facilitate any necessary corrective action and to advance future emergency preparedness.
In the meantime, displaced residents are being housed in hotels and provided with services until at least next spring. Over 1,000 hotel rooms have been secured, and Airbnb has also provided properties for an additional 1,000 people.
The governor of Hawaii has vowed to protect local landowners from being “victimised” by opportunistic buyers, and has instructed the state attorney general to work toward a moratorium on land transactions in Lahaina. The cause of the wildfires is still under investigation, but Hawaii is increasingly at risk from disasters, with wildfire rising fastest, according to an analysis of FEMA records.
As the island begins the long process of rebuilding and recovery, residents are grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy, and searching for answers about what went wrong and how it can be prevented in the future.
