2025-08-01 Emergency Proclamation and Emergency Rule No. 1 - Relating to Red Flag Warning

Home

C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii - Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • Phone (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Phone (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND EMERGENCY RULE NO.1 RELATING TO RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED ON JULY 31, 2025 By the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the County of Hawaii (County) by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawaii, and by the Charter and ordinances of the County of Hawaii, to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, hereby determine, designate, and proclaim as follows: WHEREAS, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 127A, provides for the establishment of County organizations for emergency management with the Mayor having direct responsibility and authority over emergency management within the County of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, HRS Chapter 127A, and Hawaii County Code (HCC) Chapter 7, establish a Civil Defense Agency within the County of Hawaii and prescribes its powers, duties, and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, HRS § 127A-14(b) empowers the Mayor to declare the existence of a local state of emergency in the County by proclamation if the Mayor finds that an emergency or a disaster has occurred or that there is imminent danger or threat of an emergency or a disaster in any portion of the County, as those terms are defined in HRS § 127A-2; and WHEREAS, the Charter of the County of Hawaii (CCH) Section 13-23 and HCC § 7-1- 6(4) also empower the Mayor to declare a state of disaster or emergency by proclamation; and t WHEREAS, at 8:-31AM HST on July 31, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity affectingithe leeward portions of all the Hawaiian Islands and the interior sections of the Big Island, which includes South -Big Island, Southeast-Kohala, and the Big Island Interior. The Red Flag Warning is in effect until 6:OOPM HST on August 1, 2025, but may continue into August 2, 2025 11 and WHEREAS, the NWS forecasts winds to be East 15 to 30mph With gusts up to 50mph for the Big Island and relative humidity lowering to 35 to 45 percent each afternoon; and WHEREAS, a Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior and the rapid spread of any fires that develop, which pose an imminent threat to life, property, and the environment; and