The devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii have been further exacerbated by breakdowns in the warning system, according to Hawaii Democratic Rep.
Jill Tokuda.
In an interview with CBS News, Tokuda revealed that the sirens used to alert local residents of impending danger did not go off during the fires.
She emphasized the importance of these sirens, stating that "everybody whos ever lived in Hawaii knows the warning sirens." The state tests the system monthly, with sirens blaring at 12 noon on the first day of each month.
However, during the wildfire incident, the sirens remained silent.
The lack of warning sirens forced people in harm's way to rely on cell phone, television, and radio warnings. Unfortunately, these warnings were not available in some areas due to the fire damaging the necessary infrastructure for communication.
Tokuda explained that even if the sirens had been activated, residents would have been unable to make appropriate decisions without access to cell and television coverage.
The absence of these warnings could lead people to mistakenly believe it was a tsunami and run towards land, which in this case would be towards the fire.
The consequences of the breakdown in the warning system have been devastating. As of Monday, the death toll stood at 96, with officials expecting it to rise further.
Tokuda described the situation as "absolutely heartbreaking," and both Hawaii residents and visitors face ongoing hardship in the foreseeable future. She emphasized that this is a national crisis that no one was prepared for.
The Western Journal originally reported this story.
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