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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-14 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent HazardsC. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor Renee N.C. Schoen Corporation Counsel J S. Yoshimoto Assistant Corporation 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 TRANSMITTAL LETTER a o C--,CD DATE: April 14, 2026 ?c TO: County Clerks t Q-< 25 Aupuni Street s�—' Hilo, HI 96720 r>[2- �1� FROM: Kelsey Watanabo, Legal Technician II for a ZE = (TA) Cameron Takamura, Deputy Corporation Counsel RE: Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards COPIES/ITEMS DATE DESCRIPTION 1 04-08-26 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards TRANSMITTED FOR: ® Information and Files ❑ Approval ❑ Signature ❑ Review and Comments ❑ Signature and Forwarding As Noted Below ❑ See Remarks Below ❑ Pursuant to Your Request ❑ Filing and Return (Envelope Enclosed) REMARKS: Please contact our office if you should have any questions. Thank you! Tti* nRMel: -bAe, APR 1 4 2026 Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhame, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai`i -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) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION RELATING TO THE APRIL 2026 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT AND CONCURRENT HAZARDS 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 prescribe 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 § 7-1-7(a) also empower the Mayor to declare a state of disaster or emergency by proclamation; and WHEREAS, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 2:42 P.M. HST, the National Weather Service Honolulu (NWS) issued a Special Weather Statement regarding Kilauea Volcano Episode 44 precursory activity, advising that an episodic fountaining eruption is expected within the Kilauea summit caldera with a potential eruption window extending through Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and that if an eruption occurs, varying levels of ash, Pele's hair, and other lightweight tephra may fall downwind of the eruption, potentially affecting communities at greater distances, with downwind direction forecast to the north and northeast of the summit for the next several days; and WHEREAS, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 7:40 P.M. HST, the NWS issued a High Surf Advisory for south -facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands, in effect until 6:00 A.M. HST County of Hawaii is an Equal opportunity Provider and Employer. Thursday, April 9, 2026, warning of large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet with occasional higher sets to 12 feet, which will create strong breaking waves and strong currents; and WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at approximately 3:15 A.M. HST, the NWS issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Hawaii Island summits above 12,500 feet in elevation, in effect from 6:00 A.M. HST Wednesday, April 8, 2026, through 6:00 A.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026, warning of snow and freezing rain, with total snow accumulations of up to 6 inches and ice accumulation of up to a quarter inch possible, and wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour, which will make travel to the summits very difficult to impossible and may significantly reduce visibility; and WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at approximately 3:18 A.M. HST, the NWS issued a Flood Watch for all islands in the State of Hawaii, in effect through Friday afternoon, April 10, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. HST; and WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. HST, the NWS provided supplemental information to the County, advising that the strong storm system exhibiting a Kona low -like pattern will bring prolonged heavy rainfall, strong gusty southerly (Kona) winds, and thunderstorm impacts to Hawaii Island, with peak impacts expected Thursday through Friday and potentially extending into the weekend; and WHEREAS, the NWS supplemental information forecasts additional cumulative rainfall Wednesday through Friday of 10 to 15 inches for Volcano and Pahala, 8 to 10 inches for Nd'dlehu, 6 to 8 inches for Pahoa and Ocean View, 4 to 6 inches for Hilo, 3 to 4 inches for Hawi, Kailua-Kona, and Honoka`a, and 2 to 3 inches for Waimea, with localized bands and thunderstorms capable of producing very heavy rainfall rates of 2 to 3 or more inches per hour; the NWS further forecasts peak lower -elevation wind gusts of approximately 30 to 50 miles per hour countywide, with the strongest gusts to the north and east of higher terrain; and WHEREAS, in March 2026, the County experienced two successive Kona low weather events that produced significant rainfall, flooding, and damage throughout Hawaii Island; I issued the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the March 2026 Kona Low Weather Event on March 12, 2026, and the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the Second Kona Low Weather Event in March 2026 on March 20, 2026, both of which remain in effect; and WHEREAS, Governor Josh Green, M.D., also issued emergency proclamations relating to the recent Kona low weather events affecting the entire State, the most recent being on March 25, 2026; and WHEREAS, as a result of those events and the heavy rainfall occurring on April 7, 2026, the ground throughout Hawaii Island remains saturated, and the County's soil, waterways, drainage systems, and flood -prone areas have a substantially diminished capacity to absorb or disperse additional rainfall, which significantly increases the risk of flash flooding, landslides, debris flows, and overflowing streams from any subsequent rainfall event; and y WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts of the severe weather system, compounded by the already -saturated ground conditions, are resulting or may likely result in dangerous conditions to the lives, property, and environment of the County, including but not limited to: flood -prone roads and other low-lying areas may be closed due to elevated runoff and overflowing streams; urban or other low-lying areas may experience significant flooding and property damage due to rapid runoff, residents and visitors in flood -prone areas face risk of injury or death from flash flooding; landslides may occur in areas with steep terrain; gusty winds may create flying debris, down trees, create travel difficulty for high -profile vehicles, and pose hazards to temporary structures such as tents; thunderstorms may produce lightning strikes, locally heavy rainfall, and flash flooding, particularly in interior and windward areas; and ice accumulation, snowfall, and high winds at the summits may endanger persons traveling to or present at summit areas and may damage summit infrastructure; and WHEREAS, concurrent with the severe weather system, large breaking waves and strong currents along south -facing shores may likely create dangerous ocean conditions for swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users; and a potential volcanic eruption at Kilauea summit may likely result in ashfall, Pele's hair, and other tephra affecting communities downwind, and may necessitate road closures and disconnection of water catchment systems; and WHEREAS, the combined effects of the foregoing hazards may damage or render inoperable critical infrastructure including roads, bridges, power lines, communications, and water systems; and vulnerable populations including the elderly, keiki, persons with disabilities, and those experiencing houselessness face heightened risk from these hazards and their associated effects; and WHEREAS, it is critical that the County has sufficient resources and can expeditiously and effectively prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from the forecasted severe weather event, the concurrent volcanic and coastal hazards, and their compounding effects, and protect the lives, property, environment, public health, welfare, and safety of the County, its residents, and visitors; NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, hereby declare, effective April 8, 2026, that a local state of emergency exists under HRS § 127A-14(b), CCH § 13-23, and HCC § 7-1-7(a), because the forecasted and occurring severe weather event, compounded by the already -saturated ground conditions and existing damage resulting from the recent Kona low weather events, together with concurrent volcanic and coastal hazards, has resulted in an emergency or disaster or poses an imminent danger or threat of an emergency or disaster to the County of Hawaii; and I FURTHER DECLARE that based on the conditions described above, the following measures are reasonably necessary to address the emergency or disaster: I. Invocation of Laws. Pursuant to HRS § 127A-12(c)(17), the Mayor may take any and all steps necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of HRS Chapter 127A, including the additional powers in HRS § 127A-13(b) which may only be exercised during an emergency period. I hereby authorize and invoke the following powers related to emergency management, if not already in effect: A. HRS §§ 127A-12(a)(5), 127A-13(b)(3), 127A-13(b)(4), and HCC §§ 7-1- 7(d)(2) and 7-1-7(d)(4). I authorize and direct the Administrator of the County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency, or their designee, to take appropriate actions to direct or control the following, as may be necessary for emergency management: 1. Alerts, warnings, notifications, activations; 2. Warnings and signals for alerts, and any type of warning device, system, or method to be used in connection therewith; 3. Partial or full mobilization of personnel, in advance of, or in response to, an actual emergency or disaster; 4. The conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic during, before, and after alerts, emergencies, or disasters; 5. Shut off water mains, gas mains, or electric power connections, or suspend other services; and 6. The mandatory evacuation of the civilian population. B. HRS § 127A-12(c)(11). Each public utility, or any person owning, controlling, or operating a critical infrastructure facility, is hereby required to protect and safeguard the public utility's or the person's property, or to provide for such protection and safeguarding; and provide for the protection and safeguarding of all critical infrastructure and key resources; provided that the protection and safeguarding may include the regulation or prohibition of public entry thereon, or the permission of the entry upon terms and conditions as I may prescribe. C. HRS § 127A-12(c)(14), CCH § 13-21, and HCC § 7-1-6(a). I direct all County agencies and officers to cooperate with and extend their services, materials, and facilities as may be necessary to address the emergency or disaster. D. I direct the Director of Finance to administer the disaster and emergency fund in accordance with CCH § 10-17. 4 I FURTHER DECLARE that this Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards shall terminate automatically,sixty (60) days after its issuance, unless extended or terminated by a separate or supplementary proclamation, in accordance with HRS §§ 127A-14(c) and (d). Done at the County of Hawaii, this 8't' day of April 2026 C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor County of Hawaii APPROVED AS TO FORM AND��I� Renee N.C. Schoen Corporation Counsel County of Hawaii