Maui: A Case Study on Growing Pains with the Wireless Emergency Alert System

[majorhavoc]

Maui Sent an Evacuation Alert. Why Did So Few People Get It?

As more households disconnect landline telephones and fewer families have access to broadcast television and radio, emergency managers have increasingly focused on wireless emergency notifications to instantly reach large numbers of people. But that modern system has its own limitations, relying on the resilience of cell networks and the proficiency of emergency crews across a patchwork of local agencies.

[flybynight]

Was there no police to drive around  announcing to evacuate  over a loudspeaker ? Helicopter doing the same? The official response to this, before, during and after has been horrendous.

[Uomo Senza Nome]

Was there no police to drive around  announcing to evacuate  over a loudspeaker ? Helicopter doing the same? The official response to this, before, during and after has been horrendous.

Probably not. The Maui Police Department is supposed to have around 400 officers and has less than 300. Like most other agencies in the US they are facing recruiting challenges from 7 straight years of media and others calling them all racist baby killers. Figure about 20-25% were on duty at the time, with probably 25% of those being non-patrol units. So maybe 50 officers for the whole island. 

As the warnings were so late, it is unlikely they could have gotten enough there in time to be effective. Nine officers lost their homes in the fire and many did assist with the evacuation while the city was burning down around them.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/maui-police-union-chair-county-department-failed-officers-homes-burned-down-during-rescues