What does this research mean for the field?

Traffic data from the 2023 Maui wildfires reveals a lack of clear vehicle evacuation or reentry patterns in the Lahaina area, contrasting with typical large-scale evacuations and suggesting severe roadway blockages, low situational awareness, or highly localized impacts. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONTRADICTORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Quantify vehicular traffic patterns before, during, and after the 2023 Maui wildfires to evaluate evacuation and reentry dynamics in the Lahaina area.

August 22, 2026Natural Hazards Review

Roadway Traffic Assessment of the 2023 Maui Wildfires

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Authors

BWBrian Wolshon SPScott Parr SPSiddharth S. Parida

Discussion

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Overview

Observational traffic analysis uncovers an absence of typical vehicular evacuation spikes during rapid-onset wildfires, suggesting severe roadway blockages and delayed evacuation responses.

Key Points

Quantify vehicular traffic patterns before, during, and after the 2023 Maui wildfires to evaluate evacuation and reentry dynamics in the Lahaina area.
Extracted continuous traffic count data from the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Monitoring System across the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Established a 5-week pre-fire baseline and evaluated 3 weeks of continuous data during and after the wildfire to analyze volume, direction, and timing of vehicle movements.
Continuous sensor data showed an absence of clear or definitive vehicular evacuation surges or reentry patterns out of or into the Lahaina area, contrasting with typical large-scale disaster evacuations.
Traffic patterns qualitatively indicate severe roadway congestion, gridlock, low situational awareness delaying departure decisions, or significant movement on foot rather than by motor vehicle.

Cite This Study

Wolshon et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895f62ca7ade938187e0d9 https://doi.org/10.1061/nhrefo.nheng-2502

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August 22, 2026Natural Hazards Review

Roadway Traffic Assessment of the 2023 Maui Wildfires

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

BWBrian Wolshon SPScott Parr SPSiddharth S. Parida

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Observational traffic analysis uncovers an absence of typical vehicular evacuation spikes during rapid-onset wildfires, suggesting severe roadway blockages and delayed evacuation responses.

Key Points

Quantify vehicular traffic patterns before, during, and after the 2023 Maui wildfires to evaluate evacuation and reentry dynamics in the Lahaina area.
Extracted continuous traffic count data from the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Monitoring System across the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Established a 5-week pre-fire baseline and evaluated 3 weeks of continuous data during and after the wildfire to analyze volume, direction, and timing of vehicle movements.
Continuous sensor data showed an absence of clear or definitive vehicular evacuation surges or reentry patterns out of or into the Lahaina area, contrasting with typical large-scale disaster evacuations.
Traffic patterns qualitatively indicate severe roadway congestion, gridlock, low situational awareness delaying departure decisions, or significant movement on foot rather than by motor vehicle.

Cite This Study

Wolshon et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895f62ca7ade938187e0d9 https://doi.org/10.1061/nhrefo.nheng-2502

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark