National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri National

The most shocking and unprecedented national news of the past week has unequivocally been the Hawaii wildfires, which have mostly affected the island of Maui.

by human infrastructure, rather than lightning or other natural causes.

The vast majority of burned buildings and damage costs come from the town of Lāhainā, a historic village on the northwest side of the island of Maui. The town of 13,000 people possesses the lion’s share of the 2,200 burned buildings and 1,000 of the 1,700 missing people.

The Hawaii government local utilities have been criticized for their slow or inadequate preparation and response to the disaster. Residents have claimed that outdoor warning sirens did not sound to alert the public of imminent danger. They’re typically used to warn of hurricanes or tsunamis, so some have argued the sirens would not have been completely helpful.

Locals have also criticized the response efforts after the most severe flames have subsided, stating that obtaining food, water, shelter, gasoline, and other necessities from local and federal agencies has been difficult. They have been more successful with provisions from community and volunteer groups.

“We should all be saying to this president, ‘This is not right.’ We should all be saying this. I have for one year been saying this.”

In a Twitter post from the 2021 mayoral campaign, (pictured top right) Adams wrote on Twitter: “Yes, New York City will remain a sanctuary city under an Adams administration.”

The fires started on August 8 and are still burning but are mostly contained at this point.

So far, 17,000 acres of land have been scorched by the fires, accounting for estimates of $6 billion in damages that are certain to rise over the coming weeks.

With over 2,200 buildings destroyed, and at least 106 casualties, the Maui fires are the deadliest in U.S. history in over 100 years, since the 1918 fires that swept across northern Minnesota claimed over 1,000 lives.

The current wildfire disaster in Hawaii is also the deadliest natural disaster in the state’s history.

With 1,700 people still reported missing, it’s assumed the historic death toll will only continue to rise.

Governor Josh Green (D) is overseeing the recovery effort and has been blunt about the harrowing nature of these fires. A vast majority of the bodies recovered are so badly burned, that they’re not identifiable. It now comes down to genetic testing to identify the deceased.

“We’re asking all of our loved friends and family in the area who have any concern to go get swabbed at the family support center so that we can match people genetically,” Governor Green said.

The estimated cause of the fire is a downed power line, which was exacerbated by dry conditions and highspeed winds from category four Hurricane Dora to Hawaii’s south. Most wildfires are started by people or

Another criticism is that of Hawaiian Electric’s - the utility who provides electricity to about 95% of the state - failure to turn off the island’s main power lines. Since damaged or downed power lines are typically responsible for sparks that start a dangerous blaze in most wildfires, the residents believe that due to dry conditions and Hurricane Dora’s strong winds, the electricity should have been turned off as an abundance of caution.

The only downside of turning off power on such short notice meant it would have precluded fire departments from adequately fighting the fires, as they can require power to pump water.

Hawaiian Electric now faces a class-action lawsuit for their lack of proactivity.

Some groups are accepting donations from the public to aid in the recovery effort. Groups include the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Maui United Way, and the Maui Food Bank. GoFundMe also has a running list of verified fundraisers.

The Messenger wishes to express sincere sympathy and prayers for the state of Hawaii, the island of Maui, and the village of Lāhainā.

State

Tempers continue to flare in New York City amidst the migrant crisis, but this time, residents and even elected officials are taking jabs at one other.

Mayor Eric Adams (D) was confronted by angry Queens citizens who harshly criticized his plan to house 1,000 migrants at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, with many claiming it will breed crime and drug prevalence, in addition to lowering property taxes. Protestors also accosted Adams with signs that read “one-term mayor.”

It is estimated that the migrant crisis will cost the city $12 billion over the next three years.

Adams dismissed cries to deport the migrants by saying if he did so, he would be federally sanctioned and the city would not receive funding to address the problem.

“I’ve been saying it over and over again. This is going to come to your community. We need to be united together to stop this.”

Adams also said that he inherited a mess that local and federal leaders, including Joe Biden, need to help him address:

Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is criticizing NYC’s response to the crisis, saying the city should have been more proactive and cooperative with state officials:

“The city can and should do more to act in a proactive and collaborative manner with the state,” said a lawyer for Governor Hochul. “The City did not prioritize this critical effort. Had the City done so, it is likely that thousands more migrants would be able to work today.”

The rare swipe at Mayor Adams from Governor Hochul marks a unique tonal point over the course of the crisis, but is yet another example of New York Democrats’ intraparty fighting since the beginning of this year. Albany leaders delayed the state budget for over a month during the winter sparring over line-item policy provisions.

Local Congressman Nick LaLota (R) of the First District recently met with Save the Sound, a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to preserving and maintaining the Long Island Sound.

LaLota and members from the group discussed his bill H.R. 1584, Plum Island National Monument Act, which he sponsored on March 14. The bill establishes Plum Island, New York, as a national monument for the purpose of ecological conservation, historical preservation, and the discovery and celebration of our shared cultural heritage.”

LaLota wrote on Twitter: “Proud to partner with groups like @SavetheSound to preserve and protect our environment! We’re all working together to ensure Plum Island remains a vibrant ecosystem— free from development— in perpetuity!”

In April, the bill was submitted to the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Easterson said that patrons at Parsnip’s Pub on Lake Shore Road saw the incident unfold real-time and called emergency services.

However, as firemen got to the boat ramp, they petitioned Easterson for use of his own boat to save the stranded sailor. Easterson’s house is unique as it is only one of three houses to have private boat access to Lake Ronkonkoma.

“I don’t know why they didn’t have a boat of their own, maybe it had to do with the rebuilding of Station No.1 on Johnson Avenue, these guys came from Station No.2 on Motor Parkway. Either way, I was glad to help, it was just unusual,” said Easterson. “They saw my pontoon boat tied up and asked if I could take them out to the sailor, so I got the boat ready and set out onto the Lake with them during the thunderstorm. At this point, it wasn’t super windy but there were still some gusts, as well as lightning and the occasional thunder.”

Easterson also highlighted the potential danger to himself and the firemen due to their situation: “If there’s one place you don’t want to be, it’s on an aluminum boat on a lake during a thunderstorm.”

Easterson further documented the rescue with descriptions of the sailor and his doomed vessel:

“When we got to him, the whole boat was swamped with water, we saw the sailor, we threw him a line, and brought him in,” he said. “He was definitely a little shaken up, but we were talking to him as we rode back to the boat ramp and he seemed fine, no signs of hypothermia or concussion. I believe he declined further care once we got h

Easterson also said that it’s not his first time rescuing people from Lake Ronkonkoma and that other situations have been worse.

“Thankfully, it was summer and the water wasn’t too cold. If this was a winter rescue, he most likely would have been hypothermic by the time we got to him. And in a situation like this, you have to act quick because you never know exactly what happened out on the water. The mast could have fallen on him and he could have suffered head trauma or severe bleeding. You always have to expect the worst.”

Easterson described another rescue on the Lake in which he was involved earlier this year, when two younger sailors had their rubber raft take a puncture. This emergency occurred during the winter, and Easterson said the young men were so cold that they

Easterson also reflected on a time when an ice boat fell through on an early morning.

“I used to work in the city, but in the mornings I would sometimes go out and ice skate on the Lake. I see this ice boat falling through the ice, so I put my skates on and skated out to him to help. It wasn’t a tragedy, he was fine, but all I could think of was if his seat belt was stuck and he was trapped in the boat as it fell through the ice. After I made sure he was fine, I skated back home to catch my train to work.”

$10 Per Person All Ages!

Easterson was invited to the Lakeland Fire Department’s station on Motor Parkway for breakfast the morning after the rescue just two weeks ago.

Easterson has lived in Ronkonkoma since 1987 and has lived in his current house since 1991. He worked for CitiGroup from 1993-2017, a job which allowed him to live in England for three years while he was CFO of their Europe and Mid-Africa division.

Now, as Easterson works from home doing analytics for startup companies, he has more time to himself and more to time rescue endangered sailors on the famous Lake.

Easterson also has ties to Lake Ronkonkoma as he was circumstantially involved in

The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma: The Lady of the Lake in post-production. Easterson’s house was used as a set, but when an actor didn’t arrive in time to play a recovery scuba diver, Easterson was sized up for the diving suit and earned himself an IMDb credit opposite

A true Lake Ronkonkoma man, Easterson clearly has tendencies to rescue Lake-goers on and off the screen, but more so in reality. Easterson said that to remember this occasion, he will put a sticker of a sailboat on his aluminum pontoon boat.

The Messenger commends his selflessness, resourcefulness, and cooperation, as well as the Lakeland Fire Department for their heroic efforts as well.