Murphys, CA…Emerging facts are revealing the continued escalations that lead to the staggering loss of lives and property from the Maui wildfires that, as of this date and time, have resulted in 111 deaths and a staggering 1,300 still missing, along with the near complete devastation of the historic town of Lahaina.
In a RawStory.com article of August 17, 2023, which links to several other news sources that confirm institutional incompetence and negligence, what stands out is the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, “Herman Andaya lacked formal experience in emergency response but beat out 40 other applicants for the job and says he was prepared.”
The article continues, “Herman Andaya was not an expert in emergency management when he was hired to lead the Maui Emergency Management Agency in 2017.”
The continuing revelations of the incomprehensible tragedy are worsened with the RawStory.com report revealing, ‘“The Maui Emergency Management Agency had the authority to issue siren warnings that might have alerted people. After Andaya’s agency decided not to sound them, many survivors reported they only became aware of the fire when they saw and smelled smoke.
Andaya said sounding the sirens wasn’t an option officials considered because they’re “mainly used for tsunamis.” That’s why they’re mostly located on the coast, he said.’ https://www.rawstory.com/maui-emergency-management/
According to an article of August 11, 2023 on Honolulu Civil Beat, “Neither Maui’s fire chief nor its top emergency management official were on the Valley Isle on Tuesday despite the wildfires there being well underway.“ https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/08/mauis-top-emergency-officials-were-off-island-as-wildfires-hit-lahaina/
In an article appearing on August 17, 2023 at NBC San Diego, “Maui’s top emergency official resigns after criticism for not activating sirens during fire.”
From the RawStory.com article, cited above, “Asked about Andaya’s resume, David Hafner, a retired telecommunications planner for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, questioned whether his relative inexperience affected his agency’s performance in a crisis.”
“It’s a good ol’ boy network,” Hafner said. “This time it cost lives.”
On the homepage of Calaveras2024Election.com, we cite our primary effort to better Calaveras County as follows, “We are done tolerating county-sanctioned and institutionalized conflicts of economic interests, cronyism and exclusionary collusion through the willful suppression of entrepreneurialism and innovation in favor of select support of legacy personalities, businesses and industries through the advocacy of inexperienced and – we allege – inept individuals entrenched in a range of both Calaveras County governmental and business bureau leadership positions.”
The timeline of the Maui wildfire is horrifying… the town of Lahaina was burned to the ground in only 65 minutes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Hawaii_wildfires
If you think a tragedy of this magnitude cannot happen here in Calaveras County, think again.
Calaveras County’s government failed to adequately fund our fire districts or the Sheriff’s Department, while allowing the inappropriately sited construction of a Tesla Supercharger Station at Meadowmont Center in Arnold adjacent to a residential community.
- Arnold Community Alarmed by Tesla Supercharger Station Location. July 25, 2023:
- Calaveras County Government Worsens Public Safety and Fire Risks. August 2, 2023:
- General Public Comments to Calaveras Board of Supervisors. Subject: Repeal and Replace EVCS Ordinance. August 8, 2023: https://calaveras2024election.com/blog/f/gpc-to-calaveras-board-of-supervisors-subject-evcs-ordinance
- Calaveras County’s long-term critical issues neglect-Grand Jury. August 14, 2023|
Christopher Buttner
Respectfully,
Christopher Buttner
Director and Founder
Murphys Economic Development Alliance
“Serving the tourism-dependent business communities from Copperopolis to Angels Camp to Murphys to Arnold to Bear Valley.”
Lahaina’s Horrifying Fire Tragedy Can Happen in Calaveras County ~ Christopher Buttner added by admin on
View all posts by admin →