By Pedro Candela Terry, Content Marketing Manager, Genasys Inc.
No time to read the whole blog? Click to see the key takeaways:
- Redundancy saves lives. Multi-channel alerting ensures communities receive critical information even when one system fails.
- Anticipation is power. Fire risk modeling helps decision makers act earlier and more decisively.
- Preparedness pays off. Proactive investment is always less costly, financially and humanly, than post-disaster recovery.
In August 2023, the Maui fires devastated Lahaina, destroying thousands of structures and taking over a hundred lives. The event shocked the world not only because of its scale but also because of the communications and preparedness gaps it exposed.
The tragedy underscores a critical truth for public safety professionals – disasters cannot be prevented, but their impacts can be reduced through proactive planning, resilient communications, and community preparedness.
For jurisdictions across the country, especially those in fire-prone or resource-constrained areas, the Maui fires are not just a story of loss; they are a warning. By studying what happened, communities can better understand the challenges disasters present and take steps to improve preparedness.
A High-Level Look at What Happened
The Maui fires spread rapidly in dry, windy conditions, fueled by vegetation and worsened by infrastructure vulnerabilities. Power lines fell. Communications were disrupted. Many residents reported receiving little or no warning before flames overtook neighborhoods. Despite Hawaii’s reputation for natural hazard awareness, the alert and evacuation processes did not keep pace with the speed and intensity of the fire.
While no system can guarantee zero casualties in a disaster of this magnitude, the after-action reports point to a reality that other communities must confront: when alerting systems are fragmented, risk models underutilized, and evacuation communications delayed, lives are put at risk.
The Role of Multi-Channel Alerting
A key lesson from Maui is the need for multi-channel communications. Sirens, text alerts, mobile apps, social media, radio, and community notification systems should work together, not in isolation. In Lahaina, the reliance on limited channels meant some residents were unaware of the danger until it was too late. FEMA’s emergency communications guide reinforces that alerting messages must be delivered through multiple channels and be accessible to all recipients.
Communities that have invested in layered, redundant alerting systems where a message sent once and automatically distributed across multiple platforms are far better positioned to reach people quickly, even during chaotic conditions. This redundancy ensures that if one system fails, others continue to deliver life-saving information.
Fire Risk Modeling and Situational Awareness
Another lesson from Maui is the importance of anticipating wildfire behavior. Fire risk modeling tools now integrate real-time weather and topography to forecast fire spread. If communities invest in these tools, emergency managers can better anticipate which neighborhoods are at risk, when evacuations should begin, and what routes remain viable.
Some regions, such as parts of California, have successfully used predictive modeling and pre-positioned resources to reduce loss of life in fast-moving fires. Additionally, federal efforts complement these advances. The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate is developing wildfire sensors that detect smoke and gases to pinpoint ignition locations, allowing for geographically targeted notifications. Early detection and real‑time modeling turn data into action, giving leaders the confidence to make earlier, life-saving decisions.
Evacuation Communications and Coordination
The Maui fires revealed how fragile evacuation communications can be under stress. Roads were quickly overwhelmed, some routes became impassable, and confusion about where to go cost valuable time.
Jurisdictions that have conducted pre-disaster evacuation planning using tools like zone-based evacuation systems, traffic management strategies, and dedicated public safety communications platforms find smoother outcomes during large-scale emergencies. When the public understands evacuation zones and officials can update routes in real time, the result is faster, safer movement away from danger.
Preparedness as Insurance
For many smaller or budget-constrained jurisdictions, the question isn’t whether preparedness is valuable; it’s whether it is affordable. The Maui fires provide a stark answer. The human, financial, and reputational costs of waiting until after a disaster are exponentially greater than the cost of modest, proactive investments in preparedness.
Preparedness is insurance. Like any insurance policy, the goal is not to hope it pays out, but to know that when disaster strikes, the community has a safety net.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
The story of Lahaina is tragic, but it does not have to be repeated. For public safety leaders, the Maui fires are both a warning and a roadmap. The lessons are clear: build multi-channel alerting systems, use fire risk modeling to anticipate threats, and strengthen evacuation communications before disaster strikes.
Don’t question whether your community will be ready. Contact Genasys to learn more about protective communications in today’s disaster-prone world.
