2023-08-08 Mayor's Emergency Proclamation and mandatory evacuation order for red flag severe weather

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NtY°OP kth Lee E.Lord Managing Director Mitchell D.Roth Mayor Robert H.Command tJ,rF°8F rir�*`` Deputy Managing Director oaa1`i Of ire of fhr avar 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 Hilo,Hawaii 96720 . (808)961-8211 Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 RED FLAG SEVERE WEATHER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER WHEREAS, Chapter 127A, Hawaii 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, Hawaii Revised Statutes and Chapter 7, Articles 1 and 2 of the Hawaii County Code, establishes a Civil Defense Agency within the County of Hawaii and prescribes its powers, duties, and responsibilities, and Section 13-23 of the Hawaii 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 of the State of Hawai`ij including South Kona, Kohala, and the Interior areas of the Island of Hawaii due to strong winds and low humidity. A Red Flag Warning means very dry conditions exist and the brush fire risk 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 Hawaii,began actively burning affecting two separate Big Island communities in both North and South Kohala; and WHEREAS, at approximately 2:45AM, a brush fire in the Kohala Ranch area was reported. The Hawaii 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 to the 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 until 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 County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.