2026-03-16 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the March 2026 Kona Low 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 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) 3234444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION RELATING TO THE MARCH 2O26 KONA LOW ' 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 of Hawaii, 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 of Hawaii (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, as of 4:00 P.M. on March 12, 2026, the National Weather Service had forecasted a Kona low pressure weather system affecting the State of Hawaii and issued the following for the County of Hawaii: a flood watch, a high wind watch for lower elevations (Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph), and a high wind warning (Southwest winds 55 to 75 mph with gusts up to 110 mph) and a winter storm warning (total snow accumulation of 12 to 18 inches and wind gusts up to 110 mph) for the summits; and WHEREAS, Governor Josh Green, M.D., issued an emergency proclamation and a second emergency proclamation relating to the Kona low weather event and affecting the entire State on March 9, 2026; and County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.