Maui officials attending FEMA training when fires started – Report reveals cruel irony.
Tragedy Strikes as Maui Officials Attend FEMA Training During Deadly Wildfires
While Maui faced devastating wildfires, top emergency officials were attending Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster training on a neighboring island. The shocking part? They did not respond to emergency calls for a staggering five hours after the fires began. This raises serious questions about their competence and priorities.
The deadly wildfires, including the Upcounty Fire, broke out on Maui in the early hours of Aug. 8. The Lahaina fire even forced the evacuation of a school near Lahaina around 6:40 a.m. However, emergency response was shockingly delayed until nearly 11 am, despite the fire spreading significantly.
This delayed response contributed significantly to the devastating loss of at least 115 lives. To date, over 1,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, including 388 individuals whose identities have been disclosed but who are still missing. This marks a distressing reality following the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in over a century.
Officials’ Absence and FEMA’s Diversity Training
During the wildfires, dozens of senior officials were in Honolulu for FEMA’s annual meeting of coordinators in the Pacific region. While fires raged on Maui, these officials were discussing disaster response elsewhere.
Adding to the controversy, FEMA mandated a three-hour diversity training for its employees during this critical time. The training, which explores issues like systemic racism and oppression, has drawn criticism for its timing.
Maui residents suspect CONSPIRACY after Fire disaster as Biden Administration demands FEMA workers take “diversity courses” pic.twitter.com/QDwMMPQrUM
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 29, 2023
Although the exact number of FEMA’s employees subjected to this training remains unclear, it is known that FEMA’s resilience division, comprised of roughly 2,600 employees, was notified of the requirement. A representative for FEMA acknowledged the training but stated that it is not required, as employees have the option to choose between three different classes.
Questions About Emergency Preparedness and Biden’s Response
The tragedy also highlighted questions about Maui’s emergency preparedness, including the failure to activate sirens and provide timely warnings. Officials face growing scrutiny for their handling of the disaster, especially as the number of deaths, particularly involving children, remains unclear.
Furthermore, emergency preparedness experts have been criticized for downplaying the risk of wildfires, despite previous incidents in 2018. A lawsuit has even been filed against Hawaii’s electric company for not shutting down the grid.
It is also worth noting that President Joe Biden initially refrained from addressing the Hawaii wildfires. When he eventually visited the island, his actions were seen as lacking in compassion and sensitivity toward the affected residents.
Amidst the tragedy, residents have been asked to submit DNA samples to help identify human remains, with the death toll at 115 and the possibility that not all remains will be found. The process has been met with reluctance, and investigators have cited challenges in assembling a comprehensive list of those unaccounted for.
Source: Cruel Irony: Maui Officials Were Attending FEMA Disaster Training as Blazes Began – Report
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...