Severe Weather (Red Flag) Brush Fire (2) Emergency Proclamation

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V of Lee E.Lord Managing Director Mitchell D.Roth • Robert H.Command 0 Deputy Managing Direcior Wire of f4rAnVor 25 Aupunl Street,Suite 2603 Hilo,Hawai 196720 a (808)961-8211 Fax(808)961-6553 KO NA: 74-5044 An Keohok3lole Hwy,Bldg C a Kaflua-Kona,Hawal'i 96740 (808)323-4444 a Fax(808)3234440 RED FLAG SEVERE WEATHER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER WHEREAS, Chapter 127A, Hawai'i Revised Statutes, as amended, provides for the establishment of County organizations for disaster relief with a director in charge of each political subdivision; and WHEREAS, Chapter 127A, Hawai'i Revised Statutes and Chapter 7, Articles I and 2 of the Hawai'i County Code, establishes a Civil Defense Agency within the County of Hawai'i and prescribes its powers, duties, and responsibilities, and Section 13-23 oft Hawai'i County Charter empowers the Mayor of the County to declare emergencies-, and WHEREAS, on August 8, 2023, at 3:17AM the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for all Leeward portions oft a State of Hawai'i� including out Kona, Kohala, and the Interior areas oft a Island of Hawai'i due to strong winds and low humidity. A Red Flag Warning means very dry conditions exist and the brush fire is for these areas are being intensified by current conditions of strong and gusty easterly winds of thirty(30) to forty-five (45) mph with gusts of approximately sixty(60) mph are being further impacted by high levels of humidity of thirty-five (35) to forty-five (45) percent. This means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring and can contribute to extreme fire behavior meaning that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly; and WHEREAS, in the early morning hours of August 8, 2023, two separate brush fires on the Island of Hawai'i, began actively buming affecting two separate Big Island communities in both North and out Kohala; and WHEREAS, at approximately 2:45AM, a brush fire in the Kohala Ranch area was reported. The Hawai'i Police Department has issued a mandatory evacuation to all residents of the Kohala Ranch area (both upper and lower Kohala Ranch). The County of Hawaii has opened an evacuation shelter tote public at Hisaoka Gym located at the Kamehameha Park in Kapa'au. Additionally, the following road closures are in effect: (1) Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270) between the six(6) and seven (7) mile markers it further notice; and (2) Kawaihae Road (Highway 19) between Kawaihae and Waimea(due to downed utility lines near the sixty-three (63) mile marker); and Counly ofliuwa'i its an Equall Opponunky I'mvider and IEnplleyer