The following is a transcript of an interview with Governor Joshua Green of Hawaii, which aired on “Face the Nation” on August 20, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are now joined by Governor Joshua Green in Honolulu. Good morning, Governor. Thank you for joining us early. I want to express my condolences for the difficult situation in your state.
GOV. JOSH GREEN: Thank you, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor, can you provide an update on the number of missing individuals and the timeline for identifying remains?
GOV. GREEN: We currently have over 1,000 individuals who are unaccounted for, specifically around 1,050. The identification process will likely take several weeks due to the extraordinary challenges we face. As you reported, 85% of the impacted area has been thoroughly searched by a large number of search and rescue teams and well-trained dogs. However, the remaining 15% includes larger buildings that require more extensive efforts, such as removing floors and structures. This last portion could take weeks to complete. Unfortunately, due to the high temperatures caused by the fire, it may be impossible to recover the remains of some individuals in a meaningful way. This means that some people may be lost forever. Currently, we are working closely with the FBI and other agencies to assess the missing individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is truly disheartening, Governor. I understand that a local official mentioned that a significant number of the deceased might be children who were left at home that day because schools were closed, either alone or with their grandparents. Could you confirm this?
GOV. GREEN: It is indeed a possibility. Internally, we are discussing the likelihood that many children may be among the deceased. This catastrophe is the largest disaster to ever hit Maui and possibly the whole of Hawaii, aside from events during times of war. We deeply appreciate the support and assistance from around the world during this difficult time. Our current focus is ensuring shelter and necessary resources for the survivors to rebuild their lives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When will the surviving children in West Maui be able to return to school? What steps are being taken to support their needs?
GOV. GREEN: Some children will be able to return to school later this week. Affected children can attend any school in the region or wherever they are currently located. We have allocated six hotels to accommodate families with surviving children, and we are also implementing distance learning, which we utilized during the COVID pandemic. It’s important to note that King Kamehameha Elementary School in Lahaina has been completely destroyed, hosting around 650 children. Sadly, some of those children have passed away, while others will be transferred to neighboring schools. The rural nature of this area presents challenges, as schools are far apart. Thus, we have authorized alternative transportation options, such as vans, to help families commute longer distances to school.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As we discuss the current situation, there are increasing inquiries about the policies and procedures in place. The National Weather Service issued a Fire Watch for your state on August 6, just days before the fire broke out. Regarding the sirens, you mentioned in previous interviews that some were not fully functional. When did you become aware of this?
GOV. GREEN: We regularly evaluate and assess all the sirens in the state on the first day of each month. Afterward, we encourage people to update and fix them as best as they can. As a person, a father, and a doctor, I share the desire for all the sirens to function properly. It is important to note that historically, these sirens have been primarily used for tsunami and hurricane alerts. When I arrived in Hawaii 23 years ago, I was informed of their purpose while living near the shore. Consequently, we have had six fire emergencies this August alone, compared to just six between 1953 and 2003. This highlights the rapid changes occurring. Climate change is a reality, despite any ongoing debates, and we are currently experiencing the effects with a hotter planet and more intense storms. To address your question directly, yes, I do wish all the sirens went off. The response from Maui’s emergency administrator, who has since resigned, was understandably unsatisfactory. However, it is important to recognize our historical lack of reliance on these types of alerts for fires.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand, and I am aware that a comprehensive review is underway. Given the ongoing drought and hurricane season in your state, are there other Hawaiian towns as vulnerable as Lahaina?
GOV. GREEN: We are concerned about various areas in our state. For example, Waikoloa on the Big Island experienced a fire simultaneously and required evacuations. We worry about the entire state. More densely populated and urban areas like Waikiki have more firefighting resources and access to water. Oahu, which houses three-quarters of the state’s population, faces similar concerns. Although it may not have been widely reported, we have also had multiple small fires occurring on Oahu, the Big Island, and especially Maui, even after the initial fire. I would like to express my gratitude to the heroic firefighters who have been working tirelessly during this challenging time. Everyone has stepped up admirably. However, we remain worried, and we are currently doing everything within our means to warn people about the ongoing fire season. The community is well aware of the gravity of the situation following what transpired in Lahaina.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There has been scrutiny directed toward Hawaiian Electric, the largest utility company, due to images suggesting that power lines potentially caused fires. Last year, the company proposed a grid upgrade, specifically prioritizing Lahaina, and proposed a rate hike to facilitate it. Can you explain why this did not occur and if it contributed to the situation?
GOV. GREEN: Personally, I am not aware of whether power lines were the primary cause of the fire. That is precisely why I called for a comprehensive review just two days into the incident, which is atypical in such cases. Usually, investigations like this take months or longer to conclude. It is important for us to evaluate and question every level of responsibility, including the actions of cities, counties, states, and the private sector. We currently live in a world where disasters like this are becoming more frequent. From the footage I have seen, taken by survivors, the fire spread rapidly and caused explosions due to the fierce winds reaching gusts of up to 80 miles per hour. The fire was reported to have reached temperatures as high as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, completely decimating everything in its path. While this doesn’t excuse any potential shortcomings from any company, it does shed light on the realities we must be prepared for. I humbly urge cities and states to allocate resources now to prevent future disasters of this magnitude.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Just to clarify, when you reference global warming, are you suggesting that climate change exacerbated the consequences of human error?
GOV. GREEN: Indeed, it did. While there will always be remarkable efforts to save lives from both firefighters and citizens alike, we must also acknowledge the decisions made during these situations.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
