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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.19.18_8 AM UPDATE (FINAL)04, BERNARDP. CARVALHO JR.WALLACE G. REZENTES JR. Mayor Managing Director COUNTY OF KAUA'I KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMEMENT AGENCY News Release For Immediate Release: April 19, 2018 ELTON LISHIO, ADMINISTRATOR Tel (808) 241-1800 Fax (808) 241-1860 8 A.M. APRIL 19 UPDATE: Damage assessments to be conducted on Kauai Thursday Starting today at 9 a.m., teams of County of Kaua'i employees and American Red Cross volunteers will be going door-to-door through Koloa in search of properties that have been impacted by the recent storm. The County will continue conducting assessments of other storm - affected areas across the island. If you are a property owner or renter that suffered damages, please visit http://arcg.is/v990H or call Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) at 241- 1800 for more information or to make your report. KEMA has announced that air evacuations will resume today, Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Additionally, air evacuations for non -emergency response will cease on Saturday, April 21, at p.m. "We are continuing air evacuations for our isolated Ha'ena and Wainiha residents and visitors," said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. "While our first responders will continue to respond to emergency calls, we are advising those wishing to be evacuated to go to the YMCA Camp Naue landing zone by Saturday." It is unknown at this time when those evacuated can return home, as landslides continue to block access along Kuhio Highway between Waikoko and Wainiha. For those who wish to shelter in place, Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort have been serving as distribution points for food, water and other provisions. A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for the island of Kauai until at least Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. "As we anticipate the possibility of heavy rains reaching our island once again, I'd like to remind the public to remain vigilant and stay informed on any updates," said Mayor Carvalho. KEMA's Emergency Operations Center remains fully activated, coordinating with county, state, federal, and non -governmental partners for response and recovery efforts. Part of these efforts include assessing the damages that occurred islandwide. The following information provides the current status updates on power outages, water services, road closures and repairs, refuse collection and debris management, donation information, shelters, school closures, health advisories, and FAA restrictions. Power Outages: The Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) will work today on replacing a downed pole in the vicinity of the landslides at Waikoko. Additionally, KIUC will work on an outage in Wainiha that occurred overnight. Crews will also continue to inspect facilities in areas that have experienced flood damage. If anyone is without service, please call 246-4300. Water Services: The Department of Water (DOW) has lifted the "Do not drink" advisory for all Wainiha and HA'ena customers as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. Officials have completed the required water quality assessments to determine that water services for the Wainiha and Wi'ena systems are safe for drinking, cooking and normal consumption. DOW crews completed partial repairs Wednesday to the damaged main line along Weke Road, in Hanalei. The area's water service outage is now only affecting customers located along the Makai-end of Weke Road, near Black Pot Beach, until further notice. A trailer -mounted water tank with potable water is available at the intersection of Pilikoa Street and Weke Road. The public must bring their own water containers. Princeville Utilities Co., Inc. continues to ask its customers to conserve water until further notice. Current Road Closures and Repairs: • Kuhio Highway at the Wailua River Bridge will have temporary lane closures nightly from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., until Saturday morning, April 21, in order to remove debris from the river. Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) reports this will not be a continuous closure. All traffic will be routed onto the Bryan Baptiste Memorial (Makai) Bridge, where one lane in each direction of traffic will be maintained. • Kuhio Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed due to multiple landslides. Crews are working with contractors to clear out thousands of pounds of mud, trees, and debris. A definitive timeframe has not yet been established. • A portion of Kahiliholo Road in Kilauea remains closed. • Lei O Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole. • Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed. • The Hawaii Department of Transportation continues to inspect bridges in the flood - affected areas on Kauai. Kalihiwai Bridge was inspected Wednesday morning and deemed safe by DOT. For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kauai police 911 unless you have an emergency. Damage to roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure may be reported to the KEMA EOC at 241-1800. Refuse Collection and Debris Management: In an effort to assist the affected Hanalei community, the Department of Public Works will be conducting a refuse and bulky item collection for Hanalei residents on Friday, April 20. Residents are advised to place trash and bulky items curbside on the County Right of Way before 6:15 a.m. Friday. Hanalei residents and businesses may also utilize the following services: • Small bins staged at Waioli Park to dispose waste, green waste, and metal. • The Hanalei refuse transfer station is currently accepting all debris up to three feet in length. Furniture and beds longer than three feet in length are also being accepted. • The Princeville refuse transfer station is extending its hours to 5:15 p.m. until further notice. In the Koloa area, in the vicinity of Wailaau Road and Aloha Place, the County of Kauai has provided two bins for general waste and two bins for other debris. Refuse collection will occur for the upper Kahiliholo Road residents in Kilauea, on Friday, April 20. The normal collection schedule will resume next week Tuesday. All refuse transfer station green waste sites are fully operational. Donation Information: Accepted items are being are limited to non -perishables, bottled water, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, diapers, baby food and formula. Donations are currently being accepted at the following locations: • Food Bank of Hawaii — Kaua'i Branch (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) • Kaua`i Independent Food Bank (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) • Koloa Neighborhood Center (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Shelters: The Kilauea Neighborhood Center remains open as a Red Cross shelter. School Closures: Hanalei Elementary School will remain closed for all students, teachers and staff through this week while the cleanup of damaged facilities continues. Department of Health Advisories: • Mosquito concerns: Mosquitoes can and will breed in areas of standing water. Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET to exposed skin and wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, and covered shoes. If you're located in an area that wasn't as heavily impacted, get rid of standing water where you can. Department of Health vector control staff will be available to conduct mosquito abatement activities, including surveillance and treatment. Please call Environmental Health Vector Control at 241-3306. • Stay out of brown water: Most of Kauai remains under a brown water advisory. If the water is brown, stay out. After confirmatory testing, beaches from Keoneloa Bay to Sheraton Beach are open and cleared as safe. The public is advised to stay out of floodwaters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. Continue to practice good personal hygiene by washing off with soap and clean water and washing hands before handling food. For the latest updates on brown water advisories, visit DOH's Clean Water Branch website at https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/landing. • Practice good sanitation: Wash your hands often with soap and clean water to prevent spreading and contracting any illnesses, especially before handling and preparing food to avoid food contamination. If soap and clean water is unavailable, hand sanitizer may be used instead. • Food safety tips: Make sure to throw away spoiled or unrefrigerated food to prevent foodborne illnesses. Minimize the presence of flies and rodents by disposing of food in covered and sealed containers. • Get rid of items collecting mold: Exposure to mold can have harmful health effects. Mold can begin to grow within 24-48 hours after flooding. Remove standing water as quickly as possible. Take steps to dry out your home and remove wet materials and objects. Items that cannot be cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours should be discarded. Make sure to follow label instructions and wear protective gear (i.e. gloves, face masks, etc.) when using cleaners and disinfectants during the cleanup process. Additional Resource Links: • ready.hawaii.gov • Flood Damage Claims FAQ: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/flood-damage-claims- frequently-asked-questions-2/ • Repairing Your Flooded Home: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/resource-from-the- american-red-cross-repairing-your-flooded-home/ • Hawaii Department of Health advises residents and visitors to avoid or limit exposure to flood waters: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/hawaii-department-of-health- advises-residents-and-visitors-to-avoid-or-limit-exposure-to-flood-waters/ FAA Temporary Flight Restriction: The Federal Aviation Agency has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction for the above marked areas in the Hanalei and Wainiha area, particularly restricting all aircraft and UAS (drones). Please avoid the area to help ensure the safety our first responders during their ongoing emergency operations. All photos courtesy of the KEMA Emergency Operations Center.