HomeMy WebLinkAbout Mayor's First Supplemental Emergency Proclamation (Mauna Loa 12/01/2022) JM�v.os N1!y
Lee E. Lord
L�'�'g• Managing Director
Mitchell D. Roth :+
Mayor Robert H. Command
�T�•os N►� Deputy Managing Director
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25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808)961-8211 Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740
(808)323-4444 . Fax(808)323-4440
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
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 3awai`i 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 November 28, 2022 at 3:02 a.m., I as Mayor of the County of Hawaii
issued an Emergency Proclamation declaring a state of emergency due to the active cruption of
Mauna Loa; and
WHEREAS, on November 28, 2022 at 9:25 p.m., I as Mayor of the County of Hawaii
issued a Supplemental Emergency Proclamation declaring a state of emergency due 1:o the active
eruption of Mauna Loa; and
WHEREAS, the eruption began in Moku`aweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa,
inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; and
WHEREAS, the eruption has since migrated into the Northeast Rift Zone. There are
currently no active mandatory evacuations; and
WHEREAS, due to the active eruption now confined to the Northeast Rift Zone, the
previously opened evacuation shelters located at Robert Herkes gym in Pahala (Ka'ra gym) and at
the Kekuaokalani Gym at Kailua Park(Old A's) in Kona are now closed; and
WHEREAS, Section 127A-I2(a)(5)(D), Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides that during
the emergency period, the Mayor may exercise the following powers pertaining to emergency
management to direct or control as may be necessary for emergency management the conduct of
civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic
during, before, and after alerts, exercises, training, emergencies, or disasters; and
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
First Supplemental Emergency Proclamation
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, Section 127A-12(c)(12), Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. provides
that during the emergency period, the Mayor may restrict the congregation of the public in
stricken or dangerous areas or under dangerous conditions; and
WHEREAS, the active eruption continues its current path toward the Daniel K. Inouye
("DKI") Highway, which serves as the main artery between East and West Hawaii for both
residential and commercial traffic. The proximity between the DKI Highway and thi,- active flow
has drawn an overwhelming number of spectators creating a safety hazard to both motorists as
well as spectators; and
WHEREAS, based on the increase in spectators, the Department of Transportation issued
Advisory No. 22-0397 on the evening of November 28, 2022, reminding motorists that there is
no parking allowed on the DKI Highway or its shoulders between the sixteen mile m arke (16
MM) and the thirty-one mile marker (31 MM); and
WHEREAS, most of the DKI Highway between the sixteen mile marker (16 MM) and
approximately at the fifty-one mile marker(51 MM) which is the end of DKI Highway, has a
maximum speed limit of sixty (60) miles per hour, and it lacks sufficient infrastructure such as
crosswalks and necessary lighting to safely sustain the increased amount of pedestrians arriving
in vehicles in the area and traversing the area on foot, thereby creating unsafe road conditions;
and
WHEREAS, based on these unsafe road conditions, on November 28, 2022, pursuant to
Sections 127A-25 and 291C-111, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, I issued Emergency
Rule #1 prohibiting all vehicles from stopping and/or or parking on the DKI Highway at any
time between the sixteen mile marker (16 MM) and the thirty-one mile marker (31 MM), except
as permitted at designated parking lots; and
WHEREAS, based on the significant increased number of vehicular traffic continuing
beyond the thirty-one mile marker(31 MM), I issued Emergency Rule #2 extending the stopping
and parking prohibitions on the DKI Highway at anytime between the sixteen mile niarker (16
MM) to the end of the DKI Highway which intersects with Highway 190 (also known as the
Hawaii Belt Road); and
WHEREAS, due to the eruption's continued activity and close proximity to tie DKI
Highway drawing overwhelming spectators creating hazardous road conditions, I have
determined that it is necessary to supplement and expand my Supplemental Emergency
Proclamation issued on November 28, 2022, at 9:25 p.m. related to updated eruption activity and
spectator interest creating road hazards on the DKI Highway; and
WHEREAS, the danger of disaster is such magnitude to warrant protective action in
order to provide for the health, safety, welfare and protection of the people and pursuant to
Section 127A-13(b)(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Mayor finds it necessary to take
appropriate actions to direct and control the mandatory evacuation of the civilian population.
County of Hawaf i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
First Supplemental Emergency Proclamation
Page 2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, do
hereby proclaim and declare that a state of emergency exists due to the threat of imminent
disaster on Hawaii Island, effective November 30, 2022, /2.��- p.m., Hawaii.
This ORDER is effective at 1 L YZ p.m., this 301h day of November, 2022.
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
County of Hawai`i
I HEREBY CERTIFY that above is a
true and correct copy of the original
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. now oalls4akny office.
County Clerk