Hawaii wildfires are a reminder: Natural disaster risks are everywhere

The wildfires that have devastated Maui have led to billions of dollars of property damage and are on track to cause hundreds of deaths. This natural disaster occurred due to the perfect storm of high winds and extreme draught conditions, igniting wildfires that rapidly spread across parts of the island. People could not respond quickly enough to protect themselves and their property.

The lessons of the Maui wildfires and so many natural disasters is that although we can’t control nature, we can control how we prepare for and respond to unexpected natural disasters.

The Mann Gulch fire explored in Norman Maclean’sbook “Young Men and Fire” poignantly describes how even the best trained firefighters can meet a fatal end under the most dire conditions and with knowledge of what they are getting into. This invites the question: What chance do ordinary people have when faced with a fast-moving and unexpected wildfire in their everyday lives?  

Natural disasters are ubiquitous, and the risks posed to lives and property are immense. There are few areas of the country that are immune from such calamitous events.

In the South, Southeast, and Atlantic region, hurricane season has arrived, with low pressure systems that typically originate off the coast of Africa and make their way across the Atlantic Ocean, picking up energy to reach hurricane-level winds. Numerous cities in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and the Carolinas have hardened their infrastructures, created early warning systems, and designed escape routes that all serve to reduce property damage, but more importantly, to save lives in anticipation of and during such events.

In the Midwest, tornadoes and floods are the primary risks. With flat lands, storm cells that produce air rotation funnels can sweep across the plains. Slow-moving thunderstorm cells can drop massive amounts of water on areas with few natural barriers, overwhelming water retention structures that lead to flooding. This is particularly true for those living in flood plains, which are most vulnerable during such events.

Tornado warning sirens and better weather forecasting have been effective in reducing casualties. Yet tornadoes and flash floods will continue and cannot be stopped.  

In the Northeast, winter storms, often called nor’easters, can drop massive amounts of snow in densely populated areas, placing infrastructure at risk under the weight of large snow accumulations and flooding due to tidal surges. When cities like New York and Washington are affected, the business of commerce and government can be shut down, with residual effects across the nation.

On the West Coast, earthquake risks are ubiquitous. Though major earthquakes are infrequent, when they hit densely populated areas, their impact can be enormous. Recall the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that hit the San Francisco Bay area, causing widespread destruction and lives lost. The expectation that a major earthquake is overdue in the area can only be mitigated by the early warning systems in place to provide people ample notice of pending destruction, and hardened infrastructures to withstand the associated earth movement.  

What is most challenging in the aftermath of such natural disasters is the rebuilding of lives and property. This can take years to complete. Immediately following natural disasters, basic human needs like food, water and power — things that most of us take for granted — become scarce necessities. This can inflict even more harm and disruption. Recall the Waffle House heroics responding after hurricanes in the Southeast and Atlantic region, providing food to stranded survivors and first responders.  

What all these natural disasters highlight is how destructive and disruptive they can be, and that their risks are typically far bigger than manmade disasters, including terrorist events.

Though we look to government to provide protections and assistance, each of us must ultimately consider the risks that we face, based on choices like where we live.  

The fire risks that created the Maui wildfires have been present for years. The multitude of conditions that could produce them had to come together at the right time. Regrettably, they did so over the past week, resulting in massive destruction from which it will take years to recover.

Prevention is far more cost-effective than treatment, both in saving lives and property. Yet nature often has its own ideas on what direction it will take. Therefore, early warnings and rapid responses are essential.

Moreover, mitigating secondary damage, like shutting down natural gas lines and securing the power grid after fires and earthquakes, can prevent much worse outcomes. Such planning is critical, no matter what type of natural disaster is thrust upon us.    

Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.