Maui officials said text alerts were sent out, but it’s unclear how many people received them (power and cellular disruptions may have prevented residents from getting these alerts).
Many local residents have said that they didn’t know the flames were approaching until the fire was nearby.
We know from New York Times reporting that by 5:19 p.m. the fire had reached the waterfront, and that by 5:33 people were seeking shelter in the water.
If the text alerts were sent out at 4:17 p.m., that was at least 47 minutes too late.
On Maui alone, firefighters were battling fires near Makawao and Kula when the Lahaina fire erupted, leaving the ranks depleted.
Organizations:
New York Times
Locations:
Maui, Lahaina, County, Mati, Greece, Makawao, Kula, Europe, Hawaii