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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR050318KEMA34504, BERNARDP. CARVALHO JR.WALLACE G. REZENTES JR. Mayor Managing Director COUNTY OF KAUA'I KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY News Release For Immediate Release: May 3, 2018 ELTON LISHIO, ADMINISTRATOR Tel (808) 241-1800 Fax (808) 241-1860 3:45 P.M. MAY 3 UPDATE: Kuhio Highway in the vicinity of Waikoko to Wainiha to open to local traffic only beginning May 4 The County of Kaua'i and the Hawai'i Department of Transportation have announced that one lane on Kuhi6 Highway in the vicinity of Waikoko and Wainiha will be open to local traffic only beginning Friday, May 4. Residents of Wainiha and HA'ena driving vehicles under 10,000 pounds will be allowed to use the single lane on a limited basis during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., weather and conditions permitting. Access to the single lane route between Waikoko and Wainiha for local traffic will be dependent on current weather conditions to ensure safety along the 2-mile stretch. "Although access to local traffic is limited and inconvenient, our highest priority continues to be the safety of our residents," said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. "We will continue to work with the Hawai'i Department of Transportation and the community to make the best of this situation." The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Watch for Kauai and Ni'ihau through late Friday night. Should the local access be suspended due to weather, state and county officials will provide updated information when it becomes available. Local access to the 2-mile single lane of Kuhio Highway between Waikoko and Wainiha will be available on the following schedule: • 6 a.m. Waikoko to Wainiha; 0 6:30 a.m. Wainiha to Waikoko, to include shuttle; • 12 p.m. Waikoko to Wainiha, to include shuttle; • 12:20 p.m. Wainiha to Waikoko; • 12:40 p.m. Waikoko to Wainiha; • 1 p.m. Wainiha to Waikoko, to include shuttle; • 6 p.m. Wainiha to Waikoko; and • 6:30 p.m. Waikoko to Wainiha, to include shuttle. Placards and County of Kauai bus passes (that are valid through May 31) will be issued to Wainiha and H5'ena residents only. To receive a placard and/or bus pass, residents must bring their vehicle and be prepared to prove residency. Placards and bus passes may be picked up from the county's point of contact Mike Dahilig at the County office at the Hanalei Colony Resort between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4. For Wainiha and H5'ena residents who are not in the isolated areas, please contact Kauai Emergency Management Agency EOC at 241-1800 to coordinate ordering placards and County of Kauai bus passes between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Shuttle and Bus Service: A shuttle service provided by the Hanalei Colony Resort and the County of Kauai Bus will be provided for isolated Wainiha-H5'ena residents from the Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei Neighborhood Center. On weekdays, the bus service will offered during the above times listed between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. County Bus service will not be provided over the weekend from Wainiha to Waikoko. However, the Hanalei Colony Resort shuttle service will be provided in the area. Large items are not allowed on the bus, but residents may bring two grocery -sized bags. Insurance adjusters, utility company personnel, private contractors and others needing access to work in the communities past the single lane route are asked to coordinate their travel needs through KEMA at 241-1800 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The following information provides the current status updates. Park Closures: Hanalei Beach Park in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach is closed until further notice due to safety concerns. Weke Road near the beach park remains closed due to the hazardous conditions. Further, the Kauai Police Department has determined that it is unsafe for residents and visitors to enter Hanalei Beach Park from the pier area to the river mouth. The Department of Public Works is announcing that starting today, May 3, county -hired contractor Pacific Concrete Cutting & Coring Inc. will remove derelict vehicles from the sand to be returned to the owners, and begin demolition of the comfort station. In addition, the Department of Public Works is currently assessing the damaged area on Weke Road and is working on further solutions to restore the area for public use. As a reminder, the following state park facilities are closed due to flood damage until further notice: • Ha`ena State Park and the adjacent Napali Coast State Wilderness Park (including the Kalalau Trail); • Portions of Wailua River State Park; and • Polihale State Park. Current Road Closures and Repairs: • Kuhio Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed to the public as crews work to clear multiple landslides. HDOT has opened a one -lane emergency access route to Wainiha and Ha`ena, exclusively for designated emergency responders and coordinated disaster recovery operations. • 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. 0 Lei 0 Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole. • Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed. • HDOT continues to inspect bridges in the flood -affected areas on Kauai. No structural issues were found on any of the inspected bridges. An inspection of Wailua River Bridge will be performed when inspectors are able to view the pier structures in Wailua River, according to HDOT. Crews continue to clear debris in the river. 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. Building permit information: The Department of Public Works Buildings Division is reminding residents affected by the flood that property damage under $10,000 does not require a building permit for repairs. According to the Building Code, Chapter 12 Section 105.2, a building permit is not required for repairs which involve only the replacement of component parts or existing work with similar material for the purpose of maintenance, and which do not aggregate over $10,000 in valuation in any 12-month period, and do not affect any electrical or mechanical installations. Repairs exempt from permit requirements shall not include any additions, change or modification in construction, exit facilities, or permanent fixtures or equipment. For more information, you may contact Leolynne Escalona at 241-4858 or via email at lescalona(a)kauai.ciov. Refuse Collection and Debris Management: • Wainiha-H5'ena: Officials will continue to collect limited bulky items and flood -related debris. Residents are asked to leave out bulky items and flood -related debris along Kohio Highway or the county's right of way. Bulky item collection has been ongoing in this area. o Household trash will be collected on Mondays, and residents are asked to bag and secure their trash and have it set out on Sunday evening. • Hanalei: Residents may continue to use the bins staged at Waioli Park to dispose mixed waste, demolition debris, green waste, and metals. These bins will be available until Friday, May 11. Residents are reminded to separate items before disposing into the bins. o The Hanalei refuse transfer station, located in Princeville, will allow the disposal of bulky items and continue its extended hours to 5:15 p.m., until Friday, May 11. Regular hours and services will be resumed on Saturday May 12. Regular hours are from 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and size restriction for solid waste is three feet in length. • Kalihiwai and Kilauea: A bulky item pickup for residents on Kalihiwai Valley Road occurred on Monday, April 30. o Household trash pick-up for residents on Kahiliholo Road has resumed to its normal Tuesday schedule. • Keapana: Bulky items should be placed on the county's right of way before the bridge and will be picked up on Friday, May 4. • Koloa: In the vicinity of Waila`au Road and Aloha Place, residents may continue to use the bins available for mixed waste, demolition debris, and metals through Friday, May 11. Residents are reminded to separate items before disposing into the bins, which will be marked. o Additionally, crews will perform bulky item pickup on Wednesday, May 9. Medical Services at Hanalei Colony Resort: The medical team deployed to Ha'ena continues to operate out of Hanalei Colony Resort. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with after-hours care provided for urgent needs. The medical team will remain in place until reliable ground transportation is in place. The team is able to meet the healthcare needs of the community at this time and is not currently in need of medical volunteers. Animals: The Kauai Humane Society continues to offer free veterinarian services from 9 to 11 a.m. daily at the Hanalei Colony Resort for the isolated Wainiha and HA'ena communities. They have also provided pet food to the distribution sites at Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort. Donation Information: Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort continues to serve 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.) Motor Vehicle Registration deadline extended: Isolated Wainiha and Ha`ena residents who missed the Motor Vehicle Registration deadline on April 30 will have until May 31 to renew their registrations without a penalty fee. In order to verify their eligibility, vehicle owners are required to have the following: • A registration address in Wainiha or Ha`ena; and/or • A utility bill or other mail showing your name and eligible Wainiha or Ha`ena address. Additionally, vehicle owners from the affected areas will also need to fill out a declaration attesting to their inability to pay on time as a result of the road closures. See attached for a list of ongoing health recommendations from the Kauai District Health Office. From the Kauai District Health Office: Ongoing Health Recommendations Related to the Flood Response Mental Health Services: Natural disasters are stressful and can cause emotional reactions, which everyone experiences differently. Taking care of your emotional and mental health will go a long way while trying to recover from a natural disaster. Talk to your family members and friends to maintain a strong support system. Help your children by sharing age -appropriate information and being honest. Set a good example for chil- dren by taking care of yourself. Take breaks and unwind periodically and ask for help if you need it. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, eligibility for mental health services is very broad and services are available to anyone with needs relat- ed to the disaster. Mental health services are al- so available via phone at the following: Kauai Family Guidance Center: 808-274-3883 Kauai Community Mental Health Center: 808-274-3190 Crisis Line of Hawaii (2417): 1-800-753-6879 Child & Family Service's Parent Line: 1-800-816-1222 Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990, TTY 1-800-846- 8517, Text TalkWithUs to 66746 Brown Water Advisories: DOH continues to ac- tively monitor the quality of coastal waters. Resi- dents and visitors are encouraged to check the CWB website for the most current information http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/. The public is ad- vised 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 associ- ated flood debris. Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. DOH recommendations for pro- tection from floodwaters also apply to areas that have been in contact with floodwaters. As the floodwaters recede, residual contamination will persist in mud, debris, vegetation, and sand. A good rule of thumb is that if an area smells like it is contaminated by sewage or other malodorous materials, it can be assumed to be contaminated. The appropriate precautions include: avoiding contact as much as possible, using protective clothing and covering if contact is necessary, washing off promptly with soap and clean water after contact, and seeking prompt medical atten- tion if skin irritation or signs of infection develop. Tetanus: Participating in cleanup operations fol- lowing a flood event increases the likelihood of wounds that are susceptible to tetanus and other infections. These risks can be reduced with wound care and tetanus vaccination. Immediately clean all cuts and scrapes with soap and water to reduce the chance of infection. Make sure you are up-to-date on your immunizations by check- ing your record or contacting your healthcare pro- vider. For additional information on tetanus vac- cination, please call the Kaua'i District Health Of- fice at 808-241-3495. Leptospirosis: Exposure to floodwaters also pos- es a risk of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bac- terial disease that affects humans and ani- mals. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, sweating, muscle pain, and vomiting. Occasional- ly, yellowing Qaundice) of the skin and the whites of the eyes and a rash may also occur. If you have symptoms that indicate possible leptospiro- sis infection, seek medical attention immediately. 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 Environ- mental Health Vector Control at 241-3306. Control rats, slugs and snails on your property: Widespread flooding has increased pockets of moisture as well as debris across communities. Control rats, slugs and snails on your property by eliminating their food sources and cleaning up trash. Use traps and bait according to label in- structions and always wear gloves. Collect slugs and snails and dispose of them in a hard plastic or glass container filled with seven parts water to one part chlorine, bleach, or salt. These steps can help prevent illnesses such as rat lungworm disease. For more information, go to the UH- CTAHR website at http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ctahr/ fa rmfoodsafety/rat-lu ngworm/. Food safety tips: Make sure to throw away spoiled or unrefrigerated food to prevent food - borne illnesses. Minimize the presence of flies and rodents by disposing of food in covered and sealed containers. Mold Exposure and Removal: Exposure to mold can have harmful health effects. Mold can begin to grow within 24-48 hours after flooding. Re- move 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 disinfect- ants during the cleanup process.