'Over-evacuation' may have prompted traffic problems before tsunami hit Hawaii, officials say
Share this @internewscast.com

HONOLULU (AP) — While at home on the 31st floor of a Honolulu apartment, David Sun-Miyashiro was safe above potential danger when a notification on his phone alerted him to the possibility of a tsunami generated by a massive earthquake far across the Pacific Ocean.

With ample time before any potential surge reached Hawaii, he decided to do something he might not have risked in a more urgent situation: he got into his car to pick up his father who would need a lift to the airport later on.

His journey was short-lived. Traffic in Kakaako, his neighborhood, was locked down. Sun-Miyashiro spent an hour covering just a few blocks before he opted to turn back, eventually abandoning his vehicle and walking home with his young son in tow.

The tsunami caused by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off a Russian peninsula resulted in minimal damage across the ocean. However, Hawaii officials noted that the earthquake occurring during afternoon rush hour, along with the extended warning time due to its distance, exacerbated traffic congestion in certain areas, hindering evacuation efforts that might otherwise have proceeded smoothly.

“It was definitely a bit of a wake-up call,” Sun-Miyashiro remarked, highlighting the vulnerability of densely populated areas where evacuation plans crumble if too many people simultaneously attempt to use their cars. “In such scenarios, you find yourself essentially stuck in place.”

‘Over-evacuation’ was an issue, officials say

A number of tourists opted for higher ground rather than staying on the upper floors of hotels as evacuation plans suggested. Some residents rushed to stores for supplies, while many others returned home after work to collect belongings or connect with family members before evacuating.

Additionally, some residents may have been confused about whether they really needed to evacuate, said Molly Pierce, spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.

There are standard tsunami evacuation zones, as well as zones for “extreme” tsunamis. Tuesday’s was a standard evacuation; some residents who live in “extreme” tsunami zones may have fled as well, even though they were already in safe areas, she said.

No need to hit Costco

Ed Sniffen, director of the state Department of Transportation, said Wednesday he doesn’t regret giving the public as much advance warning as possible. But next time, he would like to provide more education about how people should manage that time.

“That additional time, everybody tried to fill it. As soon as many heard about the event coming through, they tried to leave as soon as possible,” he said. “In other areas, people who were in safe zones, left those safe zones to go fill gas, went to go buy stuff from Costco or Safeway.”

It would have been more efficient for people to stay put if they were in a safe location, leaving the roads to those who needed to leave inundation zones, “and then make their way home in 20 minutes versus 2 1/2 hours.”

The state should also do a better job informing tourists that another option is simply to walk inland to higher ground, he said.

State Rep. Adrian Tam, who chairs the House Tourism Committee, said he was concerned about the gridlock in Waikiki, a legendary beachfront neighborhood that’s highly popular with tourists and which has only four roads in and out. He called it “a warning sign for the state and the city to look at ways to make things a little bit more organized.”

“I’m grateful that it wasn’t as serious as it could have been,” Tam said. “It does raise serious questions about how are we going to address massive gridlock.”

Hawaii usually has plenty of warning before tsunamis strike

Hawaii does not sit near the edge of a tectonic plate, but in the middle of the Pacific Plate. The major earthquakes that strike the state typically involve the weight of the still-growing volcanic islands bending and stressing the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Rarely are those strong enough to cause a large tsunami, though a magnitude 7.2 quake in 1975 generated a tsunami that killed two campers on the Big Island.

The tsunamis that reach Hawaii usually arise from far-off earthquakes around the Ring of Fire — including in Japan, Alaska and Chile — and provide hours of lead time for evacuations.

On Tuesday, officials also took heed from the devastating wildfire in Lahaina, ensuring that a military road from Oahu’s Waianae Coast to the center of the island was open. A private road on Maui — commonly known as “Oprah’s Road” because Oprah Winfrey has an easement to use it — was also open for any evacuees who needed it.

‘I didn’t hear a car horn honk’

Jake Bacon, a freelance photographer from Arizona, was vacationing with his family at Bellows Air Force Station, a military recreation area on Oahu, when a security officer knocked on the door of their oceanfront cabin with instructions to evacuate to a military hospital partway across the island. It took him about 90 minutes to reach the hospital in traffic, and the family eventually wound up spending the night in a Safeway parking lot, where they had access to food and a restroom.

Still, he was struck by how orderly the evacuation was, especially compared to wildfire evacuations he’s witnessed.

“I didn’t hear a car horn honk,” Bacon said.

“Maybe a wave coming that’s not gonna be here for two hours is different than seeing the mountain on fire and knowing that it’s coming and worrying that you’re gonna lose everything you own,” he added. “But everybody just sat patiently and moved through traffic. Everybody acted in a way that just seemed, you know, how you would want it to be.”

___

Johnson reported from Seattle.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Israel's Data Reveals 83% Civilian Kill Rate in Gaza Genocide

Israel’s Data Indicates 83% Civilian Casualty Rate in Gaza Conflict

The Netanyahu regime’s own classified data exposes a horrifying truth: five out…
Nigel Farage at a press conference.

Nigel Farage reveals strategy to deport asylum seekers on 5 flights daily & plans to prohibit claims from small boat arrivals

NIGEL Farage has unveiled a “mass deportation” plan with five flights out…
FBI searches John Bolton's home amid probe into classified documents

FBI Conducts Search of John Bolton’s Residence in Classified Documents Investigation

Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes…
Keffiyeh-clad anti-ICE protester threatens to stab agent, harm family in San Francisco mob attack

Protester Wearing Keffiyeh Allegedly Threatens ICE Agent and Family During San Francisco Demonstration

A mob of up to 20 anti-ICE protesters swarmed and attacked immigration…
Blue Bell Creameries recalls tubs of ice cream due to packaging error

Blue Bell Creameries Issues Recall for Ice Cream Tubs Over Packaging Mistake

It’s unclear how many tubs were recalled, but Blue Bell Creameries says…

Ex-NBA Star Shawn Kemp Sentenced to 30 Days of House Arrest for Shooting Incident in Washington Parking Lot

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA player Shawn Kemp was sentenced on…
US pauses foreign truck driver work visas amid safety debate

USA Temporarily Halts Foreign Truck Driver Work Visas Over Safety Concerns

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this week that the U.S. will…
Family photo of four.

Tragic Story: Emily Long’s Heartbreaking Decision to Spare Youngest Child in Family Tragedy

A friend of Emily Long, the woman involved in a tragic incident…
Ancient artifacts of sunken city likely destroyed by earthquake or tsunami plucked from seafloor

Historic Relics of Submerged City, Probably Lost to Earthquake or Tsunami, Recovered from the Ocean Floor

<!–> Texas archaeologists discover ancient ruler’s tomb in Belize Texas archaeologists Arlen…
More frozen shrimp recalled for possible radioactive contamination

Additional Frozen Shrimp Recalled Due to Potential Radioactive Contamination

More packages of frozen shrimp potentially affected by radioactive contamination have been…
Photo of a large stealth flying-wing aircraft over China.

China’s Massive Stealth Drone Takes to the Skies After Being Seen at a Hidden Base in Satellite Images

A TERRIFYING Chinese stealth drone has been spotted on a major test…