Maui Wildfire Response Includes OMORT Team Members

"We train for the worst and pray that we never have a reason to deploy..."

But when a tragedy of some form occurs, we wait for a possible email... and then the email appears. It was 11 pm on Saturday, Aug. 12th, when I received a phone call from Debora Reach to watch my emails for possible deployment orders. I had trained with the VIC (Ohio’s Don Bloom is the VIC Commander) twice in Anniston, worked in the VIC for the Pulse nightclub shooting, and supported the Akron Hawker crash VIC.

This alert triggered a controlled and slightly anxious repack of my Go Bag, a run to the ATM for cash, and a review of my family calendar for planned events I would have to miss - understand that every mission is a leap into the unknown. History had taught me that orders can happen fast. Though I hit the pillow at 1:30 AM, I set my alarm for 3:30 AM to check my email. At 3:30 AM, my bold emails were present and waiting. My deployment was confirmed, and my flight was to depart at 7:30 AM. I showered (uncertain when my next would be), dressed, called an Uber, hugged the family, and arrived at the airport for TSA processing and a good breakfast – because I could! My 4-hour flight to LAX was scheduled with a two-hour layover before the connection to Maui, but as a ground delay exceeded an hour, the anticipated casual layover became less casual.

In LA, I ate again and purchased water and protein bars for the flight and the unknown ground environment of Maui. The second 5-hour leg was in a large aircraft with few on board – many different uniforms, search and rescue dogs, and expressions of gratitude from the flight deck and attendants. In the air over Maui, I was struck by the brilliant colors I’d forgotten since my vacation there 5 years before. Phone calls were made to confirm my arrival, and personnel clusters formed as other flights arrived. Team friendships were warmly revived, and ground transportation assignments and accountability were confirmed. WhatsApp was our Victim Information Center Team communication tool for transparent, collective, and real-time contact. We drove 40 minutes along the western coast road and through the Lahaina fire damage to our billeting. Unlike past large group quarters, military barracks, or shared hotel rooms, I was given a single room at a Sheraton resort hotel with a gorgeous view of the hotel gardens, Pacific Ocean, and Moloka’i. I ate power bars, ironed my uniforms, and retired at 8 PM (2 AM EST) – this was two hours of sleep over the last 44 hours.

Morning briefings were a part of the daily routine before we gathered at the resort lobby for a 7:30 AM departure to drive the 40 minutes back to the designated Family Assistance Center. McDonald's, coffee shops, and grocery stores were unaffected by the wildfires. Logistics had not caught up to us yet, but we prepared the site as best we could and developed relationships with the Maui EMA and Prosecutor’s Office staff. Families would provide DNA samples by buccal swabs, and the DNA company ANDE would collect and generate the Rapid DNA profiles. It was the first of 12-hour days before we headed back after dark along the coast road. Everyone was done for the day. When the LRATS arrived with pickup trucks of gear, it was a pleasant surprise to see several friends, including Ed Babcock from my own Ohio response team. Our VIC operation and the FAC eventually relocated to the West side to be closer to the Lahaina community. This was also closer to our quarters, eliminating the daily 80-minute round trip.

Security was always present from FBI, US Marshals, Fish & Game, ATF, Tribal Lands, Maui PD, and others. Changing colored wristbands were given at each morning’s sign-in when entering the Hyatt Resort FAC for another layer of security. The ‘8-page’ forms generated from the interviews were delivered to the computer cache for data entry. Dr. Stephanie Swyter and I were Subject Matter Experts assigned government computers and phones with internet connectivity. Connectivity allowed us to search the web for dental office contact information, speak with dentists, generate/sign and email a patient record request form, and provide an email address for offices to email dental records to the VIC. These records were then loaded onto a flash drive for downloading to the missing person database. The internet was never connected to our missing person database. “Semper Gumby – Always Flexible” - there were several wrinkles that we ironed out day by day.

There were language challenges, cultural/political sensitivities to address, our uniforms were replaced with more civilian attire when interacting with the local families, and several dental offices had completely burned. Dental records were sometimes recovered from the cloud, and local dentist contacts proved valuable in contacting other dentists on the island.

"My role was a two-week deployment while some of the VICT extended their mission a few more days as the response was contracting. Good leadership, years of training, prior event operations, no egos, and trust in one another proved to be the foundation that allowed the VICT to operate efficiently and productively. As with each of my deployments, it was my honor and privilege to be asked and to serve."

Dr. Chuck Berner