Maui County has little or no emergency plans, supplies, or infrastructure for emergencies. Basically, Maui is only set up to last a few days beyond any major disaster. If the ports close due to storms or tsunamis, the food supply stops. If the airports close too, it will not last a week before it starts running out of food. We do not have food security, and we are totally dependent on external supplies. This also includes fuel.
When the power goes out, such as from a brush fire at the power plant or an earthquake, we not only lose power at home, but the County loses the ability to pump water. That means most people will not have running water in their homes or be able to flush their toilets, as sewage systems also require electricity to pump waste away. In a serious power outage, basic sanitation breaks down quickly.
Hospitals would also be pushed to capacity and would run low on supplies. If there were a hurricane and you sustained a serious injury, what then?
My wake-up call came when we received the “15 minutes to ballistic missile warning” on Maui. The biggest concern was being told to shelter in place. Did that mean there was nowhere for us to go, or that authorities could not handle the number of people needing shelter?
High school gymnasiums? Maybe not even that. There are no facilities specifically designed to function as emergency shelters. High school gyms do not have stockpiled blankets, cots, emergency food, or water ready for immediate use.
You are on your own with what you bring. Even basic facilities like toilets may not function without power. So people gather and wait—for what? For help? From where?
FEMA has some supplies stored in containers across the island. However, incidents such as fires affecting storage units have raised concerns about what is actually available. FEMA also keeps locations confidential for security reasons.
So who is responsible for your safety in a crisis? In reality, it falls on each household to prepare. It is worth asking local officials where emergency provisions are located and why proper shelters are not in place.
Why not incorporate shelters into existing and future infrastructure? Government buildings could include multi-purpose basement structures designed to serve as emergency shelters, such as reinforced parking garages with added facilities like toilets, showers, ventilation, and backup power.
Planning emergency infrastructure over time could reduce costs. Financial incentives could be offered to developers—hotels, office buildings, and condos—to incorporate emergency shelter features into their designs.
For example, tax credits could be offered for constructing certified shelter space within buildings. Building codes could define requirements for these structures, including provisions for stored food, water, and essential supplies distributed across multiple locations rather than relying on centralized distribution.
Citizens should ask what the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is at their workplace. How will people get home to their families if communication systems fail? How will people move if roads are flooded, blocked, or damaged?
Currently, this infrastructure is not being built because it is not being demanded. If it were a priority for the community, it would be addressed. Planning should happen now—not for hypothetical situations, but for when a disaster inevitably occurs.
This discussion is not meant to create fear, but awareness. Understanding your vulnerability allows you to prepare appropriately. Consider not only your own needs but also those of vulnerable members of the community.
Even if you do not have the resources to build a shelter or stockpile supplies, you can still advocate for government preparedness and infrastructure improvements.
Stocking emergency supplies in advance is not selfish. It prevents panic buying and reduces strain on the system during emergencies. Being prepared may also allow you to help others.
Preparation does not have to be done alone. Communities can share resources and planning efforts. One household may have storage space, another may have supplies, and another may have water access. Shared preparation strengthens resilience.
Take stock of your resources before they are needed and understand what is available nearby.
Good luck and stay safe.