In this image taken from video, Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya speaks during a news conference in Wailuku, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.AP | Mike HouseholderThe head of Maui County’s emergency management agency resigned on Thursday, a day after he defended his decision to not activate sirens during catastrophic wildfires that have taken more than 100 lives.Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya cited health reasons for his resignation, which took immediate effect.Andaya was asked Wednesday whether he regretted not activating emergency sirens as wildfires spread across West Maui: “I do not,” he said at a press conferenceAndaya said the sirens are mainly used for tsunamis and the public is trained to seek higher ground. Escaping to higher ground would have been dangerous during the wildfires, he said.”We were afraid people would have gone ‘mauka,'” Andaya said, using …
