Learn how to prepare for emergencies at the

West Maui Disaster Preparedness Expo

September 8, 2016

Lahaina News
Save | Post a comment |
WAILUKU - The Maui County Civil Defense Agency will co-sponsor a West Maui Disaster
Preparedness Expo in partnership with the West Maui Taxpayers Association on Saturday, Sept.
10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lahaina Cannery Mall.
The public is invited to learn how
to prepare for the unique safety
issues associated with West
Maui, and how to prepare for
emergencies that can affect
residents' homes and families.
West Maui Taxpayers
Association is co-sponsoring this
event. WMTA members have
been advocates of the West Maui
community for 37 years and have
the health and welfare of this
community as part of their
mission statement.
Civil Defense officials Anna Foust (center, white shirt) and Andrea Finkelstein (blue shirt) staff
a recent expo to help residents learn how to prepare for emergencies. PHOTO BY THE MAUI
COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY.
They have been lobbying for disaster preparedness and public safety with such accomplishments
as: Facilitator Group of the Pacific Disaster Center to develop a self-reliant Civil Defense plan;
lobbied for an emergency trailer to house supplies next to the Lahaina Fire Station; lobbied for
the approval of the Certificate of Need for the West Maui Hospital; lobbied for the approval of
the Maalaea Emergency Assistance Vehicle as an added resource for West Maui; and lobbied for
the return of the Maui County Air Ambulance system.
Event prize drawings will be held at 12:30 p.m., and exhibits and displays at the expo will
provide information to help prepare for emergencies and disasters.

There will be free tickets to the prizes that will be raffled off between speakers and grand prizes
from 12:45 to 1 p.m. Prizes include gift certificates, emergency equipment and West Maui
restaurant certificates.
The American Red Cross will have a shelter display depicting the limited space designated per
person in a hurricane shelter. Talk to volunteers about what you need to bring to a shelter if you
have to evacuate from your home.
Maui County Health Volunteers, sponsored by the state Department of Health, will offer free
blood pressure screenings.
Sign up to receive Maui County Emergency Notifications from the Maui County Civil Defense
Agency. CERT: Community Emergency Response Team, Civil Air Patrol, National Guard, and
Ace Hardware will also offer information.
Educational presentations will be offered throughout the event at center stage, including "West
Maui Community Safety" by Joe Pluta of the West Maui Taxpayers Association; "Hawaiian
Hazards Awareness & Resilience Program" by Sharon Mielbrecht, a hazard mitigation specialist
with the Pacific Disaster Center; "Understanding Electrical Hazards and Your Safety" by Maui
Electric's Safety Team; "Flood and Hurricane Insurance: Do You Have Enough Coverage?" by
Mahealani Strong of Insurance Associates West Maui; "Makaala: Maui County's Emergency
Alert System" presented by Anna Foust of the Maui County Civil Defense Agency; Maui Police
Department on "Neighborhood Watch and Police Mitigation in an Emergency Event;" Maui Fire
Department on fire prevention preparedness of your home and environment; and the University
of Hawaii Sea Grant College/Simpson Strong-Tie on "Homeowner's Guide to Disaster
Preparedness."
"When it comes to emergencies and disasters, West Maui has some unique challenges to face,"
said Foust, Maui County's emergency management officer.
"The West Maui Disaster Preparedness Expo will focus on many of these issues and emphasize
the need for West Maui citizens to be better informed and better prepared for any potential
hazard."
For more information, contact the Maui County Civil Defense Agency at 270-7285.
This is a very timely event, presented for the first time especially for the West Maui community.
This is just the start of the West Maui Taxpayers Association's 2016 efforts for the improvement
of the West Maui community's health and welfare.
http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/533042/Learnhowtopreparefor
emergenciesattheWestMauiDisasterPreparednessExpo.html