Posted on Aug 14, 2023
A history of Hawaii's sirens and the difference it could have made against Maui fires
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/14/ [login to see] /a-history-of-hawaiis-sirens-and-the-difference-it-could-have-made-against-maui-f
In Maui, it's not difficult to spot one of the 80 green siren towers used to alert residents in times of danger. Each month, the blares go off as part of the island's routine tests. The noise, as loud as a rock concert, can be detected from more than half a mile away.
During natural disasters — including wildfires — Maui County said the sirens are designed to blast a steady three-minute tone to inform the public to seek further instructions on their local radio or television station.
But ahead of the historic fires last week, the sirens were silent. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's spokesman, Adam Weintraub, confirmed to NPR that local officials did not activate the siren system.
In Maui, it's not difficult to spot one of the 80 green siren towers used to alert residents in times of danger. Each month, the blares go off as part of the island's routine tests. The noise, as loud as a rock concert, can be detected from more than half a mile away.
During natural disasters — including wildfires — Maui County said the sirens are designed to blast a steady three-minute tone to inform the public to seek further instructions on their local radio or television station.
But ahead of the historic fires last week, the sirens were silent. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's spokesman, Adam Weintraub, confirmed to NPR that local officials did not activate the siren system.
A history of Hawaii's sirens and the difference it could have made against Maui fires
Posted from npr.org
Maui
Hawaii
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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Chip...having lived there for several years, IMHO, I think the sirens would have made it worse. They are used to signal a Tsunami. Those folks are trained that when they hear that they head for higher ground. If they would have done that they would have gone right into the fire. It might have been better for EMS and cops to drive thorugh neighborhoods balasting on their pa systems the instructions for folks to listen to.
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