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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.20.18_6PMUPDATE` F U 9 BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR. WALLACE G. REZENTES JR. Mayor ga A OF Managing Director s COUNTY OF KAUA'I KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMEMENT AGENCY News Release For Immediate Release: April 20, 2018 ELTON LISHIO, ADMINISTRATOR Tel (808) 241-1800 Fax (808) 241-1860 6 P.M. APRIL 20 UPDATE: Flash Flood Watch cancelled; EOC remains activated through the weekend As recovery efforts continue through the weekend, the Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency's (KEMA) Emergency Operations Center will remain activated in coordination with county, state, federal and non -governmental partners. The National Weather Service cancelled the Flash Flood Watch for the island of Kaua'i on Friday at 3 p.m. The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) announced that in conjunction with Hawai'i Healthcare Emergency Management (HHEM) and KEMA, a medical team was deployed to Ha'ena Friday morning to provide basic medical care and assessments in the isolated communities. This medical team will be stationed at the Hanalei Colony Resort in Ha'ena, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., for several days. Residents and visitors are urged to continue to take precautions and ensure their safety in the days ahead. A list of health tips are listed at the end of this notice. Residents and visitors wishing to evacuate out of the isolated areas are reminded that the last day of non -emergency air evacuations will be Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 440 people have been evacuated via air operations since Monday. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard accompanied Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on his second site visit today, to communities in Wainiha and H5'ena. "Today, I was able to go out into our North Shore communities once again and help share a tangible perspective of all recovery efforts," said Mayor Carvalho. "I'd like to also give a special shout out and mahalo to our team at the Emergency Operations Center who have been working day and night to make sure our boots on the ground, eyes in the sky, and all who are sacrificing their time are actively coordinating and staying safe." Teams went door-to-door through neighborhoods in Wailua, Kealia, Anahola, Moloa`a, Kalihiwai, Wainiha and HNena today to conduct damage assessments. The county will continue to conduct assessments of storm -affected areas across the island. If you are a property owner or renter that suffered damages, please visit www.kauai.gov or call KEMA at 241-1800 for more information or to make your report. Current Road Closures and Repairs: • Kuhio Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed as crews work to clear multiple landslides. Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced it expects to open a one -lane route for emergency access only, to the Wainiha and H5'ena areas, on or before Monday, May 7, weather permitting. • For residents affected by the Kahiliholo Road closure in Kilauea, an emergency access road has been opened for local traffic only through the privately owned Common Ground and Wai Koa Guava Plantation properties. • 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. • Lei O Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole. • Welke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed. • HDOT continues to inspect bridges in the flood -affected areas on Kauai. All inspected bridges were deemed safe by HDOT. 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. Power Outages: Power has been restored to all members on the North Shore. KIUC will continue to inspect facilities in areas that have experienced flood damage and respond to outages as they occur. If anyone is without service, please call 246-4300. Water Services: The Department of Water's (DOW) "Do not drink" advisory continues for residents located along a portion of Kuhio Highway, between Manoa Stream and the Limahuli Stream area in H5'ena. DOW is advising residents not to drink or cook with tap water, as a precautionary measure, until further notice. A trailer -mounted water tank with potable water is available at Camp Naue. To view a map of the affected area, visit www.facebook.com/Kauai DOW. A water outage continues for customers located along the Makai-end of Weke Road, near Black Pot Beach, until further notice, due to damages to the main line. A trailer -mounted water tank with potable water is available at the intersection of Pilikoa Street and Weke Road. notice. Princeville Utilities Co., Inc. continues to ask its customers to conserve water until further Refuse Collection and Debris Management: Hanalei residents and businesses may 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. Donation Information: 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. Those who wish to provide donations are asked to coordinate with KEMA at 241-1800. 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.) Shelters: The Kilauea Neighborhood Center will serve as a standby American Red Cross Shelter and will be opened as needed for flooding victims. The Kilauea Gym has been reopened for normal event use. Schools: The Hawaii State Department of Education has announced that Hanalei Elementary School will reopen for all students, teachers and staff on Monday, April 23. 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. 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 http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/. • 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.clov/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 below 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.