Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 20, 2024

TWO DISTURBANCES SOUTHEAST OF THE ISLANDS ARE EXPECTED TO MERGE OVER TUESDAY NIGHT. NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported at 8 p.m. that approximately 1350 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, showers and thunderstorms associated with a well-defined area of low pressure located well east southeast of the Hawaiian Islands are gradually becoming better organized, Only a slight increase in organization could result in formation of a tropical depression or tropical storm while it moves generally westward at 10 to 15 mph. 
    The weaker disturbance located just to its southwest is expected to dissipate or merge with this system during the next several hours. This system is expected to strengthen as it moves across the central Pacific basin late this week and move near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week. 
     Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports that while it is too early to determine the exact location and magnitude of potential impacts, interests in Hawai'i should closely monitor this disturbance. Formation chance through 48 hours...high...90 percent.



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WITH TROPICAL DISTURBANCES OVER THE HORIZON and a forecast of possible stormy weather this weekend with potential impact to Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Electric advises customers to review emergency preparedness plans and be ready for possible outages. The utility company released  a statement on Tuesday saying that strong winds and flooding can damage utility equipment or blow trees and debris into power lines, which can lead to outages. When the weather improves, power lines must be inspected, possibly involving aerial inspections using helicopters and drones, and any damage must be repaired before service can be restored.
    The company urges customers to review family and business emergency plans, ensure they have supplies they need on hand, and keep close watch on the development of the storm. Preparation and safety tips are available at
hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter. Detailed tips also may be found in a free Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, which can be downloaded from hawaiianelectric.com/prepare. It is available in English, Cantonese, Ilocano, Korean, and Vietnamese languages, as well as a version for children.
    "Safety is always Hawaiian Electric's top priority. We urge our customers to make it their top priority,"said the Hawaiian Tel statement. It recommended the following safety precautions, as appropriate: Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, emergency generators, battery-operated (hand-crank or solar) radios, light sticks, and lanterns to be sure they are operational, and buy extra batteries.
    If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occurs. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
    If you plan to use a ladder while preparing your home for the storm, note the location of power lines before you begin. Be sure that ladders or scaffolds are far enough away so that you – and the ends of the tools you're using – stay at least 10 feet away from power lines. Before lowering a TV antennae or satellite dish, make sure to turn off and unplug the TV.
    If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer's manual.
    Most counties will suspend trash and debris pickup before a storm. Please do not trim trees now, as high winds can turn cut branches into dangerous, flying debris. However, if you have already trimmed trees, please help to prevent outages by tying down or securing any of those loose branches or other debris.
    Hawaiian Electric stated that prior to hurricane season, the company conducts extensive training to prepare employees to respond safely and as quickly as possible to storms and other emergencies.
Hawaiian Tel secures mutual assistance agreements with other utilities outside the state in the event that additional restoration crews are needed. 
    "We also order backup emergency supplies and equipment, and plan staging sites across the island.
We conduct outreach with federal, state and local agencies to ensure coordination of response efforts.
We also prepare and strengthen our infrastructure throughout the year by: Doing ongoing vegetation management, inspecting and upgrading poles, power lines, transformers, and other equipment
and conducting ongoing maintenance of generating units."

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LIFEGUARD TRAINING will take Kaʻū residents on the road this year, since Pahala pool remains closed for renovations. The certification courses, which include deep water training, will be held at the following locations and times: NAS Swimming Pool (Hilo): Fridays, Sept. 6 – Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pāhoa Community Aquatic Center: Oct. 7-11 (DOE Fall Break), 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Kona Community Aquatic Center: Sept. 16-20, 6:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    "Providing our residents with essential lifesaving skills while opening doors to career development is crucial for the sustainability of our island home," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "We recognize the growing workforce demands across the island, and by equipping individuals with these vital skills, we aim to help fill critical roles not only within the County but throughout our entire community. Our commitment is to ensure that our workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow."
    The American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification courses are open to participants who will be 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the lifeguarding course. In addition, participants must complete two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations.
    "Lifeguards perform a vital role in our community by enhancing the safety of our pools and beach parks," said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation. "By equipping more people with life-saving skills and increasing the number of certified lifeguards in our community, we not only ensure our County pools are fully staffed, we also build a stronger, safer County of Hawai'i."
    Each course costs $121, and payment can be made on the first day of the course. To register, contact the pools directly. For more information about pre-requisites and pool contact information, visit the Department of Parks & Recreation Aquatics Section web page: https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/divisions/recreation/aquatics|\

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POLICE ARRESTED 20 FOR DUI during the week of Aug. 12  through Aug. 18. Hawai'i Island police arrested the motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Eight of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. One was under the age of 21.
    So far this year, there have been 614 DUI arrests compared with 617 during the same period last year. This is a decrease of 0.49 percent. Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 621 major crashes so far this year, compared with 536 during the same time last year.  This represents an increase of 15.9 percent. To date, there were 19 fatal crashes, resulting in 21 fatalities (two of which had multiple deaths, one was reclassified as suicide, one reclassified as a medical condition, and one died at a later date), compared with 10 fatal crashes, resulting in 11 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths, and one died at a later date) for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 90 percent for fatal crashes and 90.9 percent for fatalities.
    To date, the non-traffic fatality count so far this year is 0 compared to 0 non-traffic fatalities (not on a public roadway) for the same time last year. HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

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