02-22-2024, 01:03 AM
It’s a sad situation, but the response time is about on par with other incidents down here.
Consider, it’s the middle of the night. HPP Fire is 3 miles away, they’ll arrive quickly, but they’re a fire department not an ocean rescue. Police will arrive from various locales around Puna.
No one is sitting in a chopper at Hilo airport ready to take off. A pilot has to be contacted, get dressed, drive to the airport…
And the chopper can’t see the ocean at night.
Consider, it’s the middle of the night. HPP Fire is 3 miles away, they’ll arrive quickly, but they’re a fire department not an ocean rescue. Police will arrive from various locales around Puna.
No one is sitting in a chopper at Hilo airport ready to take off. A pilot has to be contacted, get dressed, drive to the airport…
And the chopper can’t see the ocean at night.