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Home My WebLink About2023-11-14 Mayor's Emergency Proclamation and Rule: Red Flag WarningMitchell D. Roth Mayor Elizabeth A. Strance Corporation Counsel J S. Yoshinioto Assistant Corporation Counsel COUNTY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 ® Hilo, Hawaii 96720 e Phone (808) 961-8251 * Fax (808) 961-8622 I I FA V W an "EM November 14, 2023 j 717 TO: Jon Henricks, County Clerk Office of the County Clerk FROM: Cody Frenz, Deputy Corporation Counsel 3cri— Office of the Corporation Counsel RE: 11-14-23 Supplemental Red Flag Warning Emergency Proclamation COPIESATEMS I DATE DESCRIPTION Original 11-14-23 Mayor's Supplemental Red Flag Warning Emergency Proclamation TRANSMITTED FOR: MYour information and filing F-1 Your signature and return F-1 Your signature and forwarding I as noted below F] Your approval F] Your review and comments Z See remarks below F-1 Filing and return (envelope enclosed) ❑ Per your request REMARKS: Enclosed is the original Supplemental Emergency Proclamation for your filing as the Custodian of Records. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you. Enclosure Received by: �¢ (Print Name) (Date) I Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Mitchell D. Roth Mavor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Robert H. Command Depiav Managing Director (Officr of #4e aVnr 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 . Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Are Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 SUPPLEMENTAL RED FLAG WARNING 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 Hawaii 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, Chapter 127A-25 authorizes the Mayor to adopt rules to carry out the provisions of Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 127A that carry the full force and effect of law; and WHEREAS, on November 4, 2023, at 3:15 pm the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for all Leeward and Interior portions of Hawaii Island which states "Dry fuels combined with strong and gusty trade winds and low humidity will produce critical fire weather conditions" and describes precautionary/preparedness actions as follows: "Outdoor burning is not recommended. Heat from vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry grass. Park cars on areas that are paved or where vegetation is trimmed and cleared. High winds contribute to wildfire hazard. Delay activities that could throw off sparks until the wind dies down"; and WHEREAS, on November 14, 2023, at 3:15 am the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from 10 am to 6 pm today for all Leeward areas, including North Kona, South Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala, Ka`u, and all Interior areas of the .Big Island indicating that "[a]lthough an area of showers is moving over the islands this morning, it has not brought significant rainfall to leeward areas. Additionally, a drier air mass will move over the islands by this afternoon, bringing an increased risk for fire danger due to strong and gusty trade winds. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. High winds contribute to wildfire hazard. Delay activities that could throw off sparks until the wind dies down. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly." The National Weather Service predicts winds may be between 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, while relative humidity may be as low as 40 percent; and County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Supplemental Red Flag Waming Emergency Proclamation November 14, 2023 Page 2 of 2 i WHEREAS, Hawaii County's preparedness for a quickly spreading fire, or fires, requires that everyone take precautions and exercise caution to avoid inadvertent fires; and WHEREAS, current weather conditions and those expected over the next several days pose an imminent threat which may likely result in substantial injury or harm to the population or substantial damage to or loss of property or substantial damage to or loss of the environment; and WHEREAS, due to the possibility of imminent disaster due to property damage and/or bodily injury to residents of Hawaii Island, and the need for government agencies and representatives from the private sector to mobilize and provide immediate services to our island residents, a Civil Defense state of emergency is authorized pursuant to Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, and Chapter 7, Hawal*i County Code. NOW, THEREFORE, 1, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, do hereby proclaim and declare that a state of emergency exist, d imminent �e to the threat of immi disaster on Hawaii Island, effective November 14, 2023, - am, Hawaii standard time and I hereby ORDER; This Emergency Proclamation shall be effective November 14, 2023 and shall terminate in sixty (60) days unless tenninated earlier or extended by a separate proclamation, whichever shall occur first. This ORDER is effective at il. V am, this 14th day of November 2023, Mitchell D. Roth Mayor County of Hawal'i APPROVED AS TO FORM A nDF Y: Dakota Frenz Deputy Corporation Counsel County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer,