We're From the Government and We're Hear to Help You

 8/17/23 New York Times:

As the fire spread further into town, the problems multiplied: Hydrants ran dry as the community’s water system collapsed, according to firefighters. Powerful sirens, tested every month in preparation for such an emergency, never sounded. Lahaina’s 911 system went down.

Many of those who evacuated said they were corralled by road closures and downed power lines into traffic jams that left some people to burn alive in their cars and forced others to flee into the Pacific. Videos shared with The Times and posted on social media show cars on Front Street crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic as smoke, embers and debris billow around them. Fuqua, abandoned their cars after getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I am in northern Idaho at a 

 meeting of gun rights lawyers, legislators, and other activists in a lakefront house.  We were discussing this among Lahaina disasters and trying to understand the blockade.  

1. Preventing sightseer and burglar entry makes sense, but only for entry.

2. To avoid cars driving over power lines might make sense.  You do not want people fleeing a firestorm to risk electrocution; someone might get hurt.

In the comments, explain other reasons.

ain unlimited access to all of The Times. 

$6.25 $1 a week for your first year.

Gain unlimited access to all of The Times. 

$6.25 $1 a week for your first year.

VIEW OFFER

Introductory offer:

$6.25 $1 a week for your first year.

VIEW OFFER

Cancel or pause anytime.

Site Index

Site Information Navigation

•