Questions raised about why Maui’s emergency alert sirens were silent as Lahaina burned

In the aftermath of the tragedy in Maui last week, some have questioned why the island’s emergency alert sirens—which are a part of the largest public safety outdoor siren system in the world—remained silent as wind-driven wildfire raced toward Lahaina. During a press briefing Wednesday, Herman Andaya, former administrator of the Maui County Emergency Management Agency, stood by his agency’s response. Andaya has since resigned.

He reiterated in the briefing: “I do not” regret not activating the system.

“The sirens, as I mentioned earlier, are used primarily for tsunamis,” Andaya said. “The public is trained to seek higher ground when the siren is sounded. If you are in a low-lying area, evacuate to higher ground. Had we sounded the siren that night, we were afraid people would have gone ‘mauka’ [higher inland],” into the fire.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced Thursday that he’d accepted Andaya’s resignation, effective immediately.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Bissen said.

Instead of activating the sirens, Andaya’s organization exclusively issued wireless EAS alerts, which are sent to TV, radio, cable and satellite services, and WEA text messaging alerts, which go to compatible mobile devices.

Andaya noted during Wednesday’s press briefing that the four sirens that are in the Lahaina area are all situated by the ocean, and that the system has never been used during a wildfire anywhere in Hawaii—although the sirens’ dedicated website lists alerting residents to the danger of wildfire as one of its purposes. The sirens are a part of the larger 80-siren Hawaii Statewide Alert and Warning System, and includes FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

The system’s website further advises residents that, “When a siren tone is heard other than a scheduled test, tune into local radio/TV/cable stations for emergency information and instructions by official authorities. If you are in a low-laying area near the coastline; evacuate to high grounds, inland, or vertically to the fourth floor and higher of a concrete building. Alerts may also come in form of a wireless emergency alert.”

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