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Home My WebLink About2024-12-12 Emergency Proclamation and Emergency Rule No. 1 Relating to December 2024 Red Flag WarningC. Kimo Alameda, Ph. D .►<v.°F M�,� Elizabeth A. Strance Mayor `p�y�M i�; Corporation Counsel a; ;♦ JS. Yoshimoto Assistant Corporation e 6F'N► Counsel COUNTY OF HAWAI'I OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • Phone (808) 961-8251 • Fax (808) 961-8622 December 11, 2024 TO: Jon Henricks, County Clerk' Office of the County Clerk FROM: Cody Frenz, Deputy Corporation Counsel Y Office of the Corporation Counsel ' W RE: Emergency Proclamation & Emergency Rule No. 1 Relating to December 2024 Red Flag Warning COPIES/ITEMS, J DATE DESCRIPTION Original 12-11-24 Mayor's Emergency Proclamation & Emergency Rule No. 1 Relating to December 2024 Red Flag Warning TRANSMITTED FOR: Myour information and filing 7 Your approval Your; ` nature and return (� our review and :comment Your signature and forwarding See ire aft below as noted below D Filingand return (enveAppe endosed) ( 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: (S1gna re ,ton Henricks (Print Name) �'L[4 (Date) Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii- Office of the ."vlayor 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 AND EMERGENCY RULE NO. 1 RELATING TO DECEMBER 2024 RED FLAG WARNING 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, § 127A-25, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, 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 December 11, 2024, at 1:31 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for all Leeward areas for the State of Hawaii through Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6 p.m. The Red Flag Warning further indicated that winds from the East are expected between 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, and with relative humidity as low as 45 percent; and WHEREAS, the Red Flag Warning specifically identified south and southeast areas being affected, such as North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, Kau, and Interior areas of Hawaii Island. These areas are covered by this Red Flag Warning, which states "the combination of dry fuels, low relative humidity, and strong trade winds will bring critical fire weather conditions for leeward sections of the state this afternoon and again Thursday afternoon." "Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly" 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. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior."; and 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 County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. WHEREAS, current weather conditions 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, Hawai`i County Code. NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, 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 December 11, 2024, P p.m., Hawaii standard time and I hereby ORDER; This Emergency Proclamation shall be effective December 11, 2024, and shall terminate in sixty (60) days unless terminated earlier or extended by a separate proclamation, whichever shall occur first. NOW, THEREFORE, I further adopt and promulgate the following RULES which shall have the full force and effect of law. Violations shall be punishable as a petty misdemeanor except as otherwise prescribed by law. 1. For the period between 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, through 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, all outdoor burning is banned in the Districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, Kau, and Interior areas of Hawaii Island. 2. For the period between 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, through 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, all outdoor open flames are banned in the Districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, Kau, and Interior areas of Hawaii Island. 3. For the period between 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, through 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, all "hot work" is banned, "hot work" includes but not limited to grinding, welding, flame cutting, or other fire or spark -producing operations. 4. The Director of Parks and Recreation is authorized to extend Rules 1 and 2 in County parks and facilities for a period up to the duration of this proclamation. This ORDER is effective at �k p.m., this 1 lth day of December 2024. These RULES are effective at 2:30 p.m. this 1 lth day of December 2024. APPROVED AS TO FORM AN34,LEGALI Y: k! ) 41 L Dakota Frenz 4.imo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor County of Hawaii County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.