Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has announced a comprehensive review of the actions and decisions made by officials before, during, and after the devastating wildfires that destroyed communities throughout Maui and beyond. This review will aim to gain a better understanding of the response mechanisms in place and identify possible areas of improvement.
In a statement, Lopez expressed her department’s commitment to understanding the decisions made prior to and during the wildfires and sharing the findings with the public. The review will also examine the standing policies related to handling such emergencies.
The announcement for this review comes in the wake of a wildfire disaster that claimed at least 80 lives, making it the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii in decades. Many survivors reported not hearing any sirens or receiving sufficient warning time to prepare for the onslaught of the fires.
The risk of fire in Maui was not wholly unexpected, with the county’s hazard mitigation plan identifying Lahaina and other West Maui communities as frequent wildfire zones with numerous buildings at risk. Despite this, the combination of the fires and winds from Hurricane Dora made containment efforts extremely challenging for Maui County fire officials.
As survivors continue to grapple with the aftermath of this catastrophe, this review is a crucial step towards understanding what went wrong and how future disasters can be better managed.