MITCH D. ROTH

MAYOR

May 1, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHEREAS, Chapter 127A Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, 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, Chapter 127A Hawai‘i Revised Statutes and Chapter 7, Articles 1 and 2 of the Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i County Charter empowers the Mayor of the County to declare emergencies; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service at 5 pm on July 17, 2023, issued a Tropical Storm Warning under Advisory Number 26 advising that Tropical Storm Calvin had entered Hawaiian waters and was located at 17.4 North Latitude and 145.4 West Longitude or 655 miles east of Hilo, Hawai‘i as a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service at 5 am on July 18, 2023, updated its Tropical Storm Warning under Advisory Number 28 advising that Tropical Storm Calvin was located at 17.5 North Latitude and 149.5 West Longitude or just under 400 miles east of Hilo, Hawai‘i as a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts; and

WHEREAS, a Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected sometime within the next 36 hours; and

WHEREAS, conditions associated with tropical storms include but are not limited to storm surge, high surf, high wind, flash flooding and heavy rain may occur; and

WHEREAS, sudden, severe and/or consistent events of high winds, heavy rains and flooding may occur and cause damage, loss, and suffering of such character and magnitude to affect the health, welfare and safety of the public and is of such a nature as to require assistance from the County of Hawaiʻi, State of Hawai‘i, and the Federal government; and

WHEREAS, given such potential, various County of Hawaiʻi emergency shelters will be opened in impacted areas at 2 pm on July 18, 2023; and

WHEREAS, due to the possibility of imminent disaster due to property damage and/or bodily injury to residents of Hawaiʻi 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 Chapters 127A, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, as amended, and Chapter 7, Hawaiʻi County Code.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, do hereby proclaim and declare that a state of emergency exists due to the threat of imminent disaster on Hawai‘i Island, effective July 18, 2023, 9:28 a.m., Hawaiʻi standard time.

This Emergency Proclamation shall be effective July 18, 2023, and shall terminate in sixty (60) days unless terminated earlier or extended by a separate proclamation, whichever shall occur first.

This Emergency Proclamation is effective at 9:28 a.m., this 18th day of July 2023.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Cyrus A.K. Johnasen

Public Information Officer

County of Hawaiʻi

Office of the Mayor

cyrus.johnasen@hawaiicounty.gov

808.345.9434