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Hawaii wildfire 2023: Key lessons to learn to help prepare for future crises

Experts agree that improving crisis management for the future requires learning from the mistakes made during these wildfires.

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Lessons Learned from Hawaii’s Wildfire
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The wildfire in Hawaii's Maui has caused a massive level of destruction. So far, a total of 106 people have lost their lives and the authorities have suggested that the number of deaths is expected to rise.

Hawaii's wildfire is counted among the deadliest wildfires in over a century. Experts believe that it is very crucial to learn from the experiences of Maui wildfires and improve crisis management for the future.

How Wildfires Can Be Prevented?

Hawai's wildfire can be compared to the California Camp Fire that happened in 2018 (also known as the Paradise Fire). Both natural disasters have various similarities in terms of location, damage, and evacuation issues.

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A spokesperson for the U.S. Fire Administration in a statement mentioned that some major lessons that could be applied in Maui's wildfire case could be:

1. Importance of maintaining constant communication with emergency responders and the public.

2. It is important that the authorities should plan and prepare for the worst situations.

3. Utmost care should be taken for people who are the first responders and workers on the ground.

4. Authorities should bring in people who are matter experts and they can address issues and challenges.

5. People who are living in the western states should be well aware of how to deal with wildfires.

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6. Different scientific practices should be adhered to reduce the chances of wildfire risk in the future.

7. As per the former FEMA assistant administrator Oliver, authorities should conduct good wildfire evacuation planning with traffic studies, written plans, and community education and outreach.

8. People who are the first responders should contain better wildfire risk estimate tools and training, which will help them to have a better understanding of the fire so that the safety and evacuation of the public should be tackled promptly.

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