The unfolding crisis on Maui is a timely reminder for business leaders that all the planning and safeguards in the world are useless for preventing or warning about an emergency or disaster if those plans and safeguards fail or are ignored.
A lot can be riding on the success or failure of those plans, preparations, and warning steyms.
Consider the circumstances around last week’s tragic and devestating wildfires on Maui.
Fire Protection Plan
In 2014, government officials in Hawaii approved a Western Maui Community Wildlife Protection Plan. But, as NPR reported, the state has struggled to implement the report’s recommendations.
“As with all government budget processes, there is never enough money to go around, so elected officials, usually with community input, set priorities, and the money runs out before you get to the lower priority items,” Clifford Oliver, a former assistant administrator of FEMA, said via email.
He noted that “there are over 100 community-provided recommendations, many of which cost money to implement. To make these mitigation actions a higher propriety would mean lowering the priority of others, what many might consider more urgent needs, such as schools, police protection, etc. Getting state and local elected officials to make this difficult decision requires true leadership and a political commitment.”
The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organizations did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Emergency Notification Procedures
No Warning
According to the New York Times, “None of the 80 warning sirens placed around Maui were activated by the island or the state’s emergency management agencies in response to the devastating Lahaina fire, a spokesman confirmed on Saturday.”
“Residents who survived the fire have wondered aloud why no one activated the sirens, which emit noises at a higher decibel level than a loud rock concert and can be heard from more than half a mile away,” the news organization reported.
CNN reported that “Although the emergency response is still being reviewed, authorities believe the sirens were “essentially immobilized” by the extreme heat, Green told CNN on Monday.
“The governor told CNN on Tuesday that some of the sirens were broken, and that is part of an ongoing investigation.
“Green said he asked the state’s attorney general “to do a full review of everything: decisions, policies, policies on water, and then, of course, the sirens.”
The Accidental Warning
This was not the first time that there were issues with the state’s emeregncy notifcation system.
In January 2018, an alert was accidently issued warning citizens to take shelter becuse of an incoming ballistic missile. “It took nearly 40 minutes for officials to issue a correction. But after the shock wore off, many were left with frustration and angger,” Hawaii News Now reported.
Water Pressure
Making a bad sitaution even worse were water-pressure-related issues.
“Hoping to control the blaze as it took root among homes along the hillside nearly a mile above the center of town, fire crews encountered water pressure that was increasingly feeble, with the wind turning the streams into mist.,” acording to the New York Times.
‘Then, as the inferno stoked by hurricane-force gusts grew, roaring further toward the historic center of town on the island of Maui, the hydrants sputtered and became largely useless.”
Early Crisis Management Lessons
Although the wildfire crisis on Maui will more than likely be the focus of local, state, and federal investigations, hearings, and reports, the early crisis management lesson for business leaders is clear.
Remember What’s At Stake
- Remember what’s at stake for your company or organization if you do not have a crisis management plan in place — or have not updated it to reflect the dangers your businesses could face.
Assume Nothing
- When it comes to preparing for a crisis, don’t assume that your crisis management plan will work when needed.
- Make sure that the crisis early warning sytems you have in place for your company are functioning. This includes monitoring and being notified immediately about critical comments about your bsuiness on social media platforms that could be an early warning of a pending crisis.
- Take steps to practice the plan on a regular basis and ensure that you have the resources necessary to implement the plan.
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