Michael Witter | Lessons from Lahaina on Maui

The tragedy of the complete destruction of Lahaina on Maui by a raging wildfire has gripped the attention of the world. Hawaiians search for answers to what caused such an unprecedented disaster, why the authorities issued no warning, how the survivors will reconstruct their lives, how to preserve the memory of the historical and cultural significance of Lahaina, and all the versions of questions that people ask in the shock of loss and debilitating grief.

The immediate cause of the rapid spread of the fire was strong winds from a storm offshore that fanned the flames lit by broken aged power lines and fed by dry grasses which are not native to Lahaina. The grasses that fuelled the fire had been introduced by the colonisers to feed the cattle on the plantations they established for export. They displaced the indigenous farmers and their traditional farming systems and transformed the natural environment; the wetlands, for example, were filled in.

The colonisation of Hawaii is recent, compared to the Caribbean. Jamaica’s plains by the sea were transformed centuries ago into plantations, and in modern times, some have become hotels and golf courses for tourists, and now housing estates. The coastal zone is now much more densely populated with buildings and infrastructure. The conventional wisdom was to reclaim the wetlands for construction and to eradicate mosquitoes. Wetlands are the border between the terrestrial and the marine environment, absorbing water in the wet season and releasing water in the dry season. They were the natural protection against the intrusion of the sea and the drying of droughts. Droughts increase the risks of fire for the food basket of St Elizabeth and the forests. Old and tangled power wires, such as on Montego Bay’s densely populated Hip Strip, present a similar fire risk to Lahaina. Strong winds from a passing storm could fan fires in Jamaica for an even bigger holocaust than Lahaina.

DEFENDED DECISION

The chief of Maui Emergency Management defended his decision not to sound the siren lest it confuse people and cause an even greater disaster. Hopefully, the tragedy of Lahaina has prompted a review by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s (ODPEM) preparedness and communication. Will ODPEM issue alerts in the event of a flash fire or any other sudden appearance of a natural or man-made hazard, and could those warnings confuse the public? ODPEM can enhance its name recognition by reminding the public regularly of its easily accessible communication channels.

Civil society organisations in Maui have urged Government agencies to work through community organisations for the most effective delivery of aid to the needy. Many Hawaiians doubt the generosity of the USA government, which they regard as a colonial occupier, and distrust the official channels for aid. Jamaica has limited resources to support community rebuilding after a natural disaster. As in Hawaii, the government should include established and capable civil society organisations in the distribution of aid. Are the tragedies of Lahaina and so many other places prompting a review of the preparedness and capabilities for recovery in all communities?

Aged, infants, the disabled, and the poor in general are the most vulnerable people to natural disasters. If as Lahaina indicates that there are now super natural disasters, the rehabilitation and rebuilding of lives will much more challenging. Traditionally, Hawaiians self-mobilise to help each other. How can Jamaican society prepare itself to capture the spontaneous outpouring of goodwill and mutual help that disasters bring out? Is this yet another reason to urgently refocus on an inclusive social and economic development by reducing the inequalities of income distribution and social privilege?

PAID DEARLY

Lahaina has now paid dearly for the loss of its wetlands and the introduction of non-native grasses after so many years. There are many examples of building in old river courses and flood-prone areas of Jamaica that have cost the inhabitants dearly when the waters come. As my grandmother used to say, “Anywhere river walk once, river walk twice”. Is this a reminder for developers to be even more cautious when interfering with the processes of the natural environment?

Lahaina was historically and culturally very important to the people of Maui. There will be efforts to record the memories and represent them in the new structures to honour the history and preserve the cultural legacy. Port Royal and Kingston today attest to their respective recovery from their great fires in 1779 and 1795, respectively. Which current Jamaican historical and cultural icons need extra protection from natural hazards? Is there a list of historic buildings, such as the Institute of Jamaica and the Spanish Town Square, whose loss would strike the same painful cultural nerve for Jamaica as the loss of Lahaina has done for Maui?

ODPEM earned respect for its work many years ago and became a model for similar bodies in the region. In the era of climate change, natural hazards are likely to be more frequent and more destructive. As with pandemics, the alert society will be best able to minimise natural and man-made disasters. Ultimately, households and communities must prepare themselves and cooperate for recovery. ODPEM’s leadership is critical to cultivating constant awareness and increasing the mobilisation of communities for their own self-preparation and self-defence. ODPEM should distil the lessons for Jamaica from the fires of Lahaina, as well as from the many other extreme weather events elsewhere.

Michael Witter is a research economist focusing on sustainable development issues. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com