HomeMy WebLinkAboutLava Supplementary Proclamation 10_16_14William P. Kenos
Mayor
Walter K.M. Lau
Managing Director
Randall M. Kurohara
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 Kcohokalolc Hwy., Bldg. C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 323.4444 . Fax (808) 323.4440
SUPPLEMENTARY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Act 11 I of the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature, provides for the
establishment of County organizations for emergency management and disaster relief with the
Mayor having direct responsibility and authority over emergency management within the
County; and
WHEREAS, Act 1 I 1 of the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature and Chapter 7, Articles 1 and
2 of the Hawaii County Code, establishes a Civil Defense Agency within the County of Hawai `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, the County of Hawaii on September 4, 2014 and the State of Hawaii on
September 5, 2014, issued Proclamations declaring states of emergency due to the threat of
disaster due to the June 27'h lava flow in the District of Puna, County and State ofHawai`i; and
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has
stated that State Highway 130 near Pahoa may be inundated by lava, therefore the County of
Hawaii continues to establish the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route to temporarily replace
State Highway 130. The United States Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has
further stated that in time the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route will also be inundated,
therefore the County has begun to establish the Chain of Craters Emergency Alternate Route;
and
WHEREAS, unauthorized use of the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route and the Chain
of Craters Emergency Alternate Route poses a safety risk for authorized workers in the area; and
WHEREAS, unauthorized use of the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route and the Chain
of Craters Emergency Alternate Route causes damage to the driving surface and adjacent areas
that creates the risk that the routes will not be immediately useable as an emergency alternate
route when needed; and
WHEREAS, having to repair unlawful damage and wear due to the unauthorized use of
the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route and the Chain of Craters Emergency Alternate Route
takes away resources that are handling other emergency response aspects related to the lava flow
emergency, such as creating fire breaks, or working on other alternate routes; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has restricted access to the
Railroad Emergency Alternate Route and the Chain of Craters Emergency Alternate Route to
authorized persons only as defined in Hawaii County Code Section 7-6; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, -25 of Act 111 of the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature, provides
that the Mayor during a state of emergency may enact rules for the County that have the force
and effect of law; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, -12 and -13 of Act l 11 of the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature,
authorizes additional powers of the Mayor during a state of emergency including but not limited
to the authority to direct and control the conduct of civilians, movement and cessation of
movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, and to direct and control the mandatory
evacuation of the civilian population as needed.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM P. KENOI, Mayor of the County of Hawai'i,
do hereby proclaim and declare that the following rule shall have the force and effect of law
pursuant to Section 2, -25 of Act 111 of the 2014 Hawaii State Legislature:
Access to the Railroad Emergency Alternate Route and the Chain of Craters
Emergency Alternate Route is prohibited except to authorized persons as defined
in Hawai'i County Code Section 7-6.
This Supplementary Proclamation is effective OCT ,1 fi 2014 , and continues thereon for
60 days or until further act by this office.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand apd caused the Seal of the
County of Hawai'i to be affixed. Done this IMay ofWOWP4 Hilo, Hawaii.
WIILIAM P. KENOI
Mayor
County of Hawaii