Hawaii Prepared for Tsunami
Edward T. Teixeira, Vice-President of the Hawaii Civil Defense, has challenged the January 21 Honolulu Advertiser's front page coverage of a public briefing on tsunami response preparedness last month. The Advertiser had described the alarm systems and evacuation maps as "antiquated" and the state tsunami plans were characterized as being "inadequate" and "less than satisfactory."
In his "letter to the editor" today, Mr. Teixeira says that neither he nor any other official at the briefing had in any way suggested that there is any inadequacy in the program. "I did not say that at the briefing; I didn't hear anyone else say it; the article does not support it, and it is simply not true.....What we presented to the lawmakers was our level of preparedness for dealing with tsunamis, which we do not consider inadequate."
The Advertiser story, and especially the headline, "is misleading and inaccurate," he writes. This, "coupled with (the writer of the article's) choice of words, may erode public confidence in the procedures necessary to save lives when a tsunami hits our islands."
Personally, I already know this is true. Since the article appeared I have personally talked with several community leaders who now believe that our state's tsunami maps and response procedures are "out of date." This erosion of the public's trust and confidence in our state, city& county and combined military civil defense plans is more than unfortunate; it is dangerous.
The Honolulu Advertiser has apparently taken advantage of the public's understandable nervousness over a tsunami in Hawaii and "hyped" a headline to help spur sales of its paper. Such self-serving dishonesty does not serve the people of Hawaii well. The Advertiser should print a "top of the front page" headline both retracting and correcting its "error."
In any case, I, for one, am encouraged by reading Mr. Teixeira's comments. I personally know several men who expend considerable energy and talent in planning and preparing for emergency response matters. Mr. Teixeira's description fits perfectly with what I have heard from others. I am convinced that we are in good hands....God's, of course, but also those of our civil defense.
In his "letter to the editor" today, Mr. Teixeira says that neither he nor any other official at the briefing had in any way suggested that there is any inadequacy in the program. "I did not say that at the briefing; I didn't hear anyone else say it; the article does not support it, and it is simply not true.....What we presented to the lawmakers was our level of preparedness for dealing with tsunamis, which we do not consider inadequate."
The Advertiser story, and especially the headline, "is misleading and inaccurate," he writes. This, "coupled with (the writer of the article's) choice of words, may erode public confidence in the procedures necessary to save lives when a tsunami hits our islands."
Personally, I already know this is true. Since the article appeared I have personally talked with several community leaders who now believe that our state's tsunami maps and response procedures are "out of date." This erosion of the public's trust and confidence in our state, city& county and combined military civil defense plans is more than unfortunate; it is dangerous.
The Honolulu Advertiser has apparently taken advantage of the public's understandable nervousness over a tsunami in Hawaii and "hyped" a headline to help spur sales of its paper. Such self-serving dishonesty does not serve the people of Hawaii well. The Advertiser should print a "top of the front page" headline both retracting and correcting its "error."
In any case, I, for one, am encouraged by reading Mr. Teixeira's comments. I personally know several men who expend considerable energy and talent in planning and preparing for emergency response matters. Mr. Teixeira's description fits perfectly with what I have heard from others. I am convinced that we are in good hands....God's, of course, but also those of our civil defense.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 8:21 AM
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