HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-29 Pahoa Emergency Shelter Set to Close September 17 -- press releaseHarry Kim
Mayor
Wit Okabe
Managing Director
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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
(808) 961-8311 • Fax (808) 961-8411
Email: parksrecreation@hawaiicounty.gov
http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/parks-and-recreation/
NEWS RELEASE
August 29, 2018
Pahoa Emergency Evacuation Shelter Closure
Roxcie L. Wattjen
Director
Maurice C. Messina
Deputy Director
The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation announces the Pahoa
Emergency Evacuation Shelter will cease operations at 12:OOpm, September 17, 2018.
Since May 3, 2018, the Pahoa shelter has been in operation and at one point housed
over 550 evacuees who were displaced due to the 2018 Puna lava event. "We have
about 45 evacuees left in the shelter and we're working with the American Red Cross,
Salvation Army, Hope Services, the Office of Housing and Development, the Office of
Aging, and FEMA to assist the remaining shelter residents with housing transition plans.
I'm hopeful that those remaining in the shelter will take the utmost advantage of the
services being offered in resolving their housing issues" said Roxcie Waltjen, Director of
Parks and Recreation.
"This has been the longest running emergency shelter in the history of Hawaii, and we
will have been in operation for 138 days on September 17, 2018. I want to thank all of
the shelter workers and the support provided from healthcare and mental health
professionals who worked behind the scenes in providing a safe, caring and healthy
environment for the evacuees."
It would be impossible to list all the individuals, and community and service groups that
provided services and goods that contributed to the successful operations of the shelter.
All of them were so instrumental in ensuring a healthy shelter operation. We are so
grateful and thankful to all who helped. We wish there was a way to say "thank you".
For more information, please call Parks and Recreation at 961-8311.
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.