|
<br />understand what happened that night, and additionally address how we can help the people
<br />affected. Learning the lessons from what happened is most important. I have a statement that I
<br />would like to read that is from Dr. Sally Boyd who just has a statement, so I’m just going to read
<br />it.
<br />
<br />To whom it may concern, I’m a physician with a naturopathic practice in Pāhoa, Hawai‛i. Our
<br />offices provide general primary care to residents of the greater Puna area. I am writing to
<br />provide a general report on the events and types of injury we have seen in our practice since the
<br />storm and geothermal event on August 7, 2014. Our office was closed with no phone service at
<br />all immediately after the storm for a period of three full days. In addition, many of our patients
<br />had no power or phone for several weeks after the event and were physically unable to get to the
<br />office to make their appointments or to make new appointments. Therefore, it is most likely that
<br />the following reporting is significantly under representative of the number of patients impacted
<br />by the event who needed care. What we did notice most is that as soon as our patients were able
<br />to call and physically arrive at the office, they did so in high numbers. This surge of patients
<br />reporting similar symptoms began as soon as the office was fully reopened, approximately 7
<br />days after the event. The increase in patients with related symptom clusters continues to this
<br />day. We have documented ten new and returning patients who report significant similar
<br />symptom sets which began acutely following the storm and geothermal gas release. In addition,
<br />about 25 percent of all returning and new patients who live in lower Puna area report these
<br />symptoms as new events but present to the office for other primary issues, such as colds, flu,
<br />hormone issues, depression, etc. Those who were closer to the geothermal plant the night of
<br />August 7th tend to report the most severe symptoms. Symptoms reported include loss of
<br />consciousness or severe lethargy immediately following the gas release lasting 1 to 3 days. This
<br />symptom was limited to those within approximately a mile of the plant. Depression, severe
<br />irritability, labile mood, inability to focus, short term memory loss, irrational behavior,
<br />conjunctivitis, red, swollen, water eyes, sinusitis, sore throat, dysphagia, chest pain, significant
<br />skin changes including dry, pale facial skin and circles under the eyes, tachycardia and
<br />palpitations, increases in existing hypertension, lung pain and shortness of breath with wheezing,
<br />increased tactile fremitus, coughing and dry wheezing sometimes with secondary upper
<br />respiratory infection symptoms and pneumonia, a severe and distinct and form of fatigue with
<br />restless legs, vague joint pains, muscle cramps and twitching and insomnia, sweating and feeling
<br />of overheating, sometimes alternated with cold sweats and foul, distinctive smelling sweat.
<br />Dramatic increases in fatigue and other symptoms in hypothyroid and autoimmune patients and
<br />those with other already existing hormonal issues. Many of these symptoms decreased in
<br />intensity over time, but have not dissipated in these patients. I would be happy to work with you
<br />further in any capacity needed to assist these patients and the community in general with this
<br />issue. Feel free to contact me.
<br />
<br />Just, sorry—anyway, I just want to say that we are thankful that the County is addressing health
<br />issues. A health study is needed, and I ask you to help make this study as useful as possible by
<br />incorporating what we learned.
<br />
<br />KISOR: My name’s Dave Kisor. I live at 14-3444 Tutu Lane, Pāhoa. It is actually in Nānāwale
<br />Estates. My cat, Thunderball, and I—I know we were both hit with this stuff because I was
<br />pretty sluggish, and he’s a 4-year old tomcat. He’s full of piss and vinegar. He’s running around
<br />17
<br />EXHIBIT F
<br />
<br />
<br />
|