Governor Signs Disaster Proclamations for Kaua’i and O’ahu

Ocean side of the damaged culvert on Kauai's Kuhio Highway. Water erosion from heavy rains have undermined the Kuhio Highway foundation (photo taken Monday, March 5). Photo courtesy Hawaii State Department of Transportation.

By Wendy Osher

Governor Neil Abercrombie today signed a disaster proclamation for the islands of O’ahu and Kaua’i, providing for the activation of emergency functions as heavy rains and flooding continue through today.

“This occurrence of a severe, sudden, and extraordinary event has caused extensive damages, losses, and suffering of such character and magnitude to affect the health, welfare, and living conditions of a substantial number of persons, thereby affecting the economy of the State, which is expected to be of such nature as to warrant rehabilitative assistance from the State,” the proclamation states.

The proclamation provides an avenue of relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering as the communities seek to ensure public health and safety.

Intermittent Flash Flood Warnings have been issued for the islands since Saturday, March 3, 2012.  As of 11:22 a.m. today, Flood Warnings remained in effect for both Kaua’i and O’ahu.

Today’s proclamation indicates that the Governor may allot funds for the most expeditious and efficient relief of the conditions created by the disaster.

The Governor’s actions today come on the heels of a separate disaster proclamation issued on March 2, which gave the state Department of Transportation authorization to begin emergency repairs to the flood damaged Kuhio Highway.  The proclamation was in response to the partial collapse of a 15-foot diameter steel culvert beneath the highway.