WHEREAS, Chapter 127A, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, as amended, provides for the establishment of County organizations for disaster relief with a director in charge of each political subdivision; 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, an eruption began in Moku’aweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. There are currently no active mandatory evacuations; community evacuations may become necessary; and
WHEREAS, due to an active eruption in Moku’aweoweo the Hawai’i Police Department has issued a road closure of the Mauna Loa access road at 1:15 a.m., Hawai’i standard time on November 28, 2022, additional road closures may become necessary; and
WHEREAS, due to an active eruption in Moku’aweoweo, currently the following shelters have been opened Robert Herkes gym in Ka’u and at Kekuaokalani Gym at the Kailua Park in Kona; additional shelters may be opened if necessary; and
WHEREAS, due to the possibility of imminent disaster due to property damage and/or bodily injury to residents of Hawai’i 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 Chapter 127A, Hawai’i Revised Statutes, as amended, and Chapter 7, Hawai’i County Code; and
WHEREAS, the danger of disaster is such magnitude to warrant protective action in order to provide for the health, safety, welfare and protection of the people and pursuant to Section 127A-13(b)(4), Hawai’i Revised Statutes, the Mayor finds it necessary to appropriate actions to direct and control the mandatory evacuation of the civilian population.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor of the County ofHawai’i, do hereby proclaim and declare that a state of emergency exists due to the threat of imminent disaster on Hawai’i Island, effective November 28, 2022, 3:02 a.m., Hawai‘i.
This ORDER is effective at 3:02 a.m., this 28th day of November, 2022.
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
County of Hawai‘i