The chief of Maui’s crisis management agency, who was criticized for not sounding alarm sirens during a wildfire in the Hawaiian city of Lahaina, resigned Thursday, according to a county statement.
Today, Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Administrator Herman Andaya
it said in the statement.
Due to health reasons, Mr. Andaya submitted his resignation, effective immediately.
Many local residents have criticized the management of the fires, which have killed 111 people and caused extensive damage, according to a recent report.
The points of criticism focused in particular on the non-triggering of the alarm sirens. Local residents reported water shortages hampering the work of firefighters and an escape route blocked.
The day before his resignation, Herman Andaya had defended the decision not to sound the sirens while the flames raged.
He justified his decision with the fear that the locals would move to the mountains and be engulfed in the fires.
With information from Agence France-Presse and Associated Press
Award-winning entrepreneur. Baconaholic. Food advocate. Wannabe beer maven. Twitter ninja.
