Maui fears fuel local concerns

Wahkiakum County commissioners heard from Craig Brown at Tuesday’s otherwise brief meeting. Brown expressed concern at the lack of a coherent plan to evacuate areas of the county in the event of a wildfire. He implored the commissioners to create an evacuation plan and to educate the public about it. Brown spoke for several minutes about how new residents of the county were at a disadvantage in being less aware than locals of alternative routes out of the county. He advised the commissioners and other local agencies to make plans to avoid the confusion that caused so many deaths during the wildfires in Hawaii.

Later, the commissioners approved a letter of support for CREST's NOAA grant application for the East fork Deep River flood reduction and fish passage project. The grant would fund the replacement of culverts and tide gates under East Deep River road, while also reducing flooding in the Deep River valley and improving fish passage. The flooding is not only a nuisance to Deep River road and Wirkkala Road residents; it blocks E.M.S. services, school bus access and mail delivery. If the grant is secured the county public works department would take ownership and maintenance responsibility for the infrastructure on county roadways.