2026-02-10 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the February 2026 Severe Weather Event

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C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai`i - 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 RELATING TO THE FEBRUARY 2026 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT By the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the County of Hawaii 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 ofHawai`i, hereby proclaim as follows: WHEREAS, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 127A, provides for the establishment of County of Hawaii (County) organizations for emergency management with the Mayor having direct responsibility and authority over emergency management within the County; and WHEREAS, HRS Chapter 127A, and Hawaii County Code (HCC) Chapter 7, establish a Civil Defense Agency within the County 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 ofHawai`i (CCH) § 13-23 and HCC § 7-1-6(a) also empower the Mayor to declare a state of disaster or emergency by proclamation; and WHEREAS, on February 8, 2026, the National Weather Service had most recently issued a Flood Watch at approximately 3:18 A.M. and a High Wind Warning at approximately 5:34 A.M. for the entire State of Hawaii, and a Winter Storm Warning at approximately 3:27 A.M. for the Big Island summits above 11,000 feet, all in effect through February 9, 2026; and WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts to the County during this period and possibly extending into February 10, 2026, include heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, flash floods, damaging winds from the Northeast to be at least 40 miles per hour with gusts over 60 miles per hour, and heavy snow accumulations from 10 to 16 inches on the Big Island summits; and WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts may cause flooding of roads, streams, and low-lying areas resulting in debris, landslides, and closures; strong winds may cause flying debris, downed County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.