Maui Resident Lashes Out at Wildfire Response in Expletive-Filled Live CNN Rant: ‘This is Bulls**t’
A pre-dawn interview on CNN became an unscripted look into the chaos of natural disasters
A Maui woman's expletive-filled rant on live TV about Hawaii's disaster management in wake of the deadly wildfires that have killed at least 80 people became an unscripted look into the chaos and tension that residents, tourists, and first responders are currently dealing with.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern (5 a.m. Hawaii time), CNN host Fredricka Whitfield introduced reporter Mike Valerio, who was stationed at the closed road leading into Lahaina. He was surrounded by residents waiting to get back into the burned-out area after officials shut down the road into Lahaina overnight following clashes between residents and officials.
Valerio approached a woman who had previously been directly off-camera. "Have you been waiting here?" he asked while bringing her into the frame.
"We've been waiting here since 4 o-clock, yesterday afternoon," the ponytailed blonde woman replied. "All of these vehicles have been waiting."
She went on to describe the current situation on the road. "There are people sleeping, this is not safe," she said while pointing to the darkened area around her and clearly growing frustrated.
"What we're doing is trying to get supplies and come back," said the woman, who was never identified on the air.
- Hawaii Attorney General Opens Investigation Into Maui Wildfire Response
- Maui Residents Forced to Flee Into Ocean to Escape ‘Apocalyptic’ Wildfire
- Maui Resident Slams Tourists for ‘Swimming in the Waters We Died in’ Following Wildfire
- FEMA Workers in Luxury Hotels on Maui Infuriates Survivors of Devastating Fires
- ‘All Gray, the Eeriness’: Maui Residents Return to What’s Left of Their Lives
- Hawaii Emergency Sirens Did Not Warn Residents of Deadly Maui Wildfires Before Flames Engulfed Town
"They should escort us back because we've got families, we've got kids, we've got s**t going on," she said, referring to officials blocking residents from traveling into the town to examine their homes and possibly salvage what might be saved.
The woman then started to criticize the response. "This is inadequate management," she said.
"I've been in plenty f**king disaster zones," she continued, growing agitated.
"And this is bulls**t," she finally declared, throwing her hands up in the air and walking off camera.
"Ma'am, we'll catch up with you later," Valerio told her as she walked away.
Officials re-opened the road to Lahaina about an hour later, around 6 a.m. local time.
Hawaiian officials confirmed death toll as of Saturday morning is over 80 people, with 1,000 still considered missing.
- Alabama Man Who Stripped Naked and Did Cannonball Into Bass Pro Shop Aquarium Was on Drugs: PoliceNews
- Infant Dies After Arizona Mother Gives Her NyQuil, Melatonin and Leaves Her Alone for Nearly 2 Days: PoliceNews
- Checkers Ordered to Pay Thousands in Back Wages to Overworked Teens Who Were Clocked Out by Managers While Still WorkingNews
- Mystery Surrounds Abandoned 35-Foot Boat Found Washed Ashore at Los Angeles BeachNews
- Watch: ‘Tidy’ Mouse Helps Retired Mailman Keep His Shed Organized and CleanNews
- Epstein Victim Described Intimate Details of Donald Trump’s Alleged Sexual Proclivities — Then Recanted: Court DocsNews
- Florida Teacher Found Dead on Turnpike Possibly Ejected From Moving Vehicle, Police SayNews
- Construction Crew Traps Car Inside Scaffolding After Owner Refused to Move ItNews
- Now You Can Play ‘Trivial Pursuit’ Online With an Infinite Number of AI-Generated QuestionsTech
- Canadian Cannabis Growers Have Destroyed Millions of Pounds of PotBusiness
- Samsung’s ‘Ballie’ Is a Rolling Robot Projector That Can Help Control Your HomeTech
- Cartel Drone Attack Kills Six in Remote Mexican Community: ReportNews
