Episode #107 Hawaii Fire Conspiracy Theories

Crimes, Conspiracies and Beyond

This one hits close to home. Jetai lives in Hawaii. This week we discuss the Hawaii fire conspiracy theory.

The Hawaii State Department of Education closed four schools in West Maui on Aug. 8 due to “unsafe conditions caused by heavy winds, including flying debris, downed power poles and trees,” according to a press release.

Then-administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency Herman Andaya previously claimed he decided not to sound the sirens because he feared residents would have fled inland toward the flames. Andaya said the sirens are mostly used to signal a tsunami and that the “public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the siren is sounded." Andaya has since resigned.

NBC News reported that residents were notified by emergency warnings sent to mobile devices. Other alerts were broadcast on local radio and television stations and sent through Maui County’s opt-in resident notification system.

Donations were confiscated and withheld from fire victims | False – Jeremy Edwards, spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the claim was “absolutely false.” Hickman also confirmed the state had “not heard any reports of donations being confiscated.” FEMA is coordinating donations with an array of other nonprofits and volunteer groups, including the Red Cross.

FEMA is denying aid and shelter to those who are “not compliant” | False – Edwards said the claim was “absolutely false.” FEMA has created a webpage for victims addressing other misinformation circulating online after the fires.