LAHAINA – How many people impacted by Hurricane Harvey would have benefitted if they had a meeting about disaster preparation before it devastated their community and lives?

What would be their advice to you about your current opportunity to prepare before tragedy strikes? Think about it!

A West Maui Community Disaster Planning Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Lahaina Civic Center Amphitheater at 5:30 p.m.

This month’s guest speaker will be Sharon Mielbrecht of the Pacific Disaster Center. The meeting will focus on Understanding Disaster Risk and Conducting a Hazard Assessment.

WMTA is working with the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Pacific Disaster Center and the State Emergency Management Agency to develop a customized disaster plan designed to meet West Maui’s specific needs.

According to WMTA, the region’s isolation from the island’s major hospital and airport, due to frequent road closures, fires and flooding, have highlighted the need for special preparedness planning.

The Hawaiian Hazards and Resilience Program (HHARP) is a series of monthly workshops, presented by subject matter experts, to provide education for hazard understanding and offer tools and information resources to guide community mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery planning.

Next month’s meeting is set for Oct. 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall.

These meetings are free and open to the public. There is ample parking for the amphitheatre on the lot by the District Courthouse adjacent to the entry gate.

The West Maui Taxpayers Association invites everyone to join in and be a part of the solution to plans that may well be the reason why lives will be saved when disasters strike. Put these meetings on your calendar and plan to attend!

More information on WMTA and disaster preparedness can be found at www.westmaui.org.