[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6502828,"mediaKeyId","5713885-61dc367846da8669918a9da833e77be7","parentId",5713885,"title","MEMA, fire and police outline how Genesis Protect is used and limits of alerting; officials press public to prepare","audioSeconds",4480,"startMs",2991000,"endMs",7471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713885-61dc367846da8669918a9da833e77be7&start=2991&end=7471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713885-61dc367846da8669918a9da833e77be7/thumbnail_2991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502828/Maui-County/Hawaii/MEMA-fire-and-police-outline-how-Genesis-Protect-is-used-and-limits-of-alerting-officials-press-public-to-prepare","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502828-d9e924545df0f2a9551108dc64b2d423/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442882&Signature=PTTtvImE52cdX2KDHpddfq~~CFzzmls3rGPv8wfQNoqn9bDJT51o~7fFPVgwixZg8-TpmiP0CkrriveKbqIy8Bb0WRBhSdV5nrOBMd2IHmdZID4W6ZHKk5SbPoGZen1GKM0TfEKm~ylGCT9O-nm9wWGz0P7n5fTplRvzOUJAng71KmkdcrQIgHMVT1bCP69cKIKdAlzX66fwPUI4T03J6KdA8wPhnU00rUgS1EN33ijw9wWPP1n9jYMWdH-~cCMuuAfqf~6YFZmeDhTMTsMjZYs1uLhtb1WFYIayHpSHF97hZtEBy~n1B-yG1wlUU2DrIcr4DhgBVhQf5fTkXOE06A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Department of Fire and Public Safety and the Maui Police Department told the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee that Genesis Protect is one tool among many for warnings and evacuations and that public education, clearer messaging and partnerships with private landowners are needed to improve outcomes.

MEMA Administrator Lono Kailua Hewitt said Genesis Protect uses an all-hazards approach, with evacuation zones generated by an algorithm that factors population density, access and egress, and historical threat, and that the county added a traffic-modeling integration (Lazarus AI) to approximate evacuation timing. “Genesis Protect is a new software for the state of Hawaii, and the state of Hawaii is paying attention to Maui,” Hewitt told the committee. She said the tool is fastest for targeted messaging but must be paired with sirens, the Emergency Alert System, radio and social media.

Fire Chief Ryland Yotsushiro said the department has been working with MEMA on Genesis Protect and “can definitely see the value in what Genesis can provide.” Deputy Chief Wade Maeda said the Police Department “100% support[s] the Genesis Protect program,” noting that the app and layered alerts can reduce the need for door-to-door evacuations by allowing residents to be notified in advance.

Officials described specific lessons from a late-July tsunami warning and an early-August brush fire in Kaanapali: in some districts, the current road network would take about 2.5 hours to move residents from evacuation zones to refuge areas, a calculation that excludes additional delays from fuel stops, shopping, or people picking up family members. Hewitt said MEMA is modeling additional routes and pursuing memoranda of understanding with private landowners (Mahi Pono, Haleakalā Ranch, Ulu Pālaua/Palakua Ranch and state lands were cited) to identify and assess roads that could be used in evacuation operations.

Hewitt described common user issues and fixes for the Genesis Protect app: location tracking and saved-location settings must be enabled (the app now allows up to 10 saved locations), and users should check notification settings so alerts are audible even when phones are on silent. She acknowledged a problem that caused some users to receive an alert after passing through a zone and said the vendor has been notified to correct that behavior. MEMA staff said they do not currently have a reliable public subscriber count for Genesis Protect but can track MEMA-alert (text) subscribers; they are requesting better analytics from the vendor.

MEMA said it uses a multi-channel approach — public sirens, EAS, wireless emergency alerts, Genesis Protect, MEMA alerts, radio and social media — and that public outreach continues at airports, schools and kupuna facilities. The agency provided a phone number for technical assistance with Genesis Protect settings: (808) 270-7285. Officials also said an after-action report (conducted by a third party) is underway, with a target delivery in September.

Council members asked about signage for inundation/evacuation zones, how to reach people without smartphones, notification cadence, and messaging for kupuna and ADA residents who may need more time to evacuate. Officials urged residents to prepare go-bags, store water and check local evacuation maps in advance.

The committee received no oral testimony on the presentation and deferred further legislative action; the item was presented for information and debrief only.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee (2025-2027) on 2025-09-03 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","MEMA, the Department of Fire and Public Safety and the Maui Police Department briefed the committee on Genesis Protect, a zone-based evacuation and notification tool, described lessons learned from a recent tsunami warning and a Kaanapali brush fire, and urged more public education and preparedness.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6502834,"Committee recommends first reading to add MEMA vehicles to county emergency-vehicle code",1753,1188000,2941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713885-61dc367846da8669918a9da833e77be7&start=1188&end=2941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713885-61dc367846da8669918a9da833e77be7/thumbnail_1188000.jpg","/articles/6502834/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-recommends-first-reading-to-add-MEMA-vehicles-to-county-emergency-vehicle-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502834-88a28864d867963663243a092339d898/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442882&Signature=O6dcz76Ts6Ww-dyDVaeErZToUMQgLr00YGhbymmSf5DIutTfCRUextmHcUj2pizRHTasQQKbHyzuXcpMo8u0BzhncUtaZo-Dab0I-9fzOHn05JRR3kTzSw5sCzrqMIkwTDk6PMlanJxTHy-6QoXN3yOOvZfxV1zuFammDgzJoD1tn8Xkie4bCLntn2h6Rsi4oq6nKvWU~OcG3AiM5R48Ymkao6r9fLM9gQ25B5Ly7IMJhOWHOcSz3dZmWf3lvFk7zEfRZdTndZa~4808KwfLHP7UFN1orT-vEQJqf3j20GWe0NxgHT1JBrjD0Gu2tzXY6qCuI49NpKSaPtYLy8KtCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council voted unanimously to recommend first reading of Bill 82-2025, a measure that would amend Maui County Code Section 10.04.03 to add vehicles used by the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to the county's definition of \"authorized emergency vehicle.\"

The change would allow MEMA vehicles to use emergency lighting and sirens, and to operate under the same traffic privileges as police, fire and ambulance vehicles when responding to incidents. Committee member Tom Cook moved the main motion and Member Lee seconded; Cook also moved the substitution to a CD1 clean-up version, which the committee approved unanimously before passing the amended main motion.

Committee members said the amendment is intended to improve response in isolated communities such as East Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Lono Kailua Hewitt, Administrator, Maui Emergency Management Agency, told the committee MEMA staff specialists are used to “link up with incident commanders” in the field and provide strategic situational awareness and connectivity to the county Emergency Operations Center. Hewitt said the agency's specialists would not assume command on scene: “The command always stays with the police department or the fire department.”

Hewitt described operational details the county expects to use with the new authority: marked county vehicles equipped with light bars, sirens, mobile radios and PA systems; smaller 4x4 vehicles for limited-access roads; and additional connectivity tools for isolated islands. She identified two recently acquired vehicles as 2025 Chevrolet Colorado crew cabs that will be outfitted for emergency response and said isolated-community vehicles will include Starlink or similar satellite connectivity to bolster communications where cell service may be limited.

Council members pressed on training, insurance and placement. Hewitt said MEMA will require certification and refresher training for vehicle operators, proposing quarterly training and development of a formal policy; she did not provide a finalized insurance or procurement plan and said those items remain to be resolved. On current assets, Hewitt stated the agency has six vehicles total, with three assigned to isolated communities and three for the rest of Maui. She said supply-chain delays have pushed the agency's move to its new EOC to an estimated January timeline and that MEMA plans parking at the back of the Telecom building for some vehicles.

Public testimony on the item was limited to one speaker. JC Law of Kula Oka thanked MEMA staff for outreach and said he hopes he never needs their services but appreciated their presence.

The committee record notes the proposed CD1 version contains \"non-substantive revisions for clarity, consistency, and style.\" The committee voted to substitute in the CD1 and to recommend first reading as amended; members raised no recorded objections at the committee level. The committee also closed oral testimony and accepted written testimony into the record prior to action.

The bill now proceeds toward first reading on the full council agenda, subject to regular scheduling and any further amendments or requests from administration or legal staff.

","The Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee voted unanimously to recommend first reading of Bill 82-2025 to amend Maui County Code Section 10.04.03 to include vehicles used by the Maui Emergency Management Agency as \"authorized emergency vehicles.\"","actionData","errors"]

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MEMA, fire and police outline how Genesis Protect is used and limits of alerting; officials press public to prepare

Committee recommends first reading to add MEMA vehicles to county emergency-vehicle code