Hawaii officials have been explaining why Maui's siren network wasn't activated in last week's Lahaina fire, which killed at least 111 people. The explanation attracting the most attention was offered by a Maui official:
“Sirens have not been used for brush fires. It is our practice to use the most effective means of conveying an emergency message to the public during a wildland fire…” He included alerts sent to cell phones as one of those “most effective means.”
That was unfortunate. Mainland agencies have learned that cell phone-based networks – ones used by Maui’s Emergency Management Agency – frequently fail during fires. And they can’t match radio’s coverage and speed. (Evening Update: Citing health concerns, this official has submitted his resignation.)
This same official offered other explanations for not activating Maui’s sirens:
· “We were afraid that people would have gone mauka. and if that was the case, then they would have gone into the fire.”
· “I heard (the wind) was very loud, so they wouldn’t have heard the sirens.”
· People would have thought there was a tsunami. That’s what sirens are used for.
Those wouldn’t be concerns after an education campaign that would condition the public to turn on their radio to Maui’s emergency broadcaster when they hear sirens. In California, Napa County's grand jury issued a grand jury report after the 2017 Wine Country Fires (pictured) that said “radio saved the day.” The report recommended:
“Napa County should negotiate an agreement, in conjunction with the County’s municipalities, to formally incorporate plans to utilize local radio station KVON into existing and future Disaster and Hazard mitigation plans in the County by June 30, 2019.”
Hawaii is the most geographically isolated place on earth, but that's no excuse for distancing itself from crisis communications experiences and lessons learned elsewhere.
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