Governor Extends Emergency Proclamation to October

By David Kvasnicka

Drone footage of a damaged house in East Hawai’i County. Image courtesy @PrimeFootage.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today signed a supplementary proclamation to extend Hawaii’s state of emergency to Oct. 17, 2014.

The original emergency proclamation would’ve expired Friday, Aug. 15.

The governor’s office has not yet publicly released a statement about the extension of the emergency proclamation but is expected to do so on Friday.

The extension of the proclamation is in response to the widespread damage and ongoing disaster recovery efforts on Hawai’i Island.

As of Thursday Aug. 15, an estimated 6,300 customers have been without power for a week, says Hawaiian Electric and Light Company. They say full restoration could take up to three weeks.

No official damage report has been released yet.

People queue up for ice and other supplies during Hurricane Iselle’s recovery efforts. Photo courtesy of Jolyn Ho/Nanawale Long House.

The proclamation, which includes the entire state, activates the Major Disaster Fund set aside by the Legislature for disaster relief. It also allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels, along with the suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes, the governor’s office said regarding the initial proclamation on Aug. 6.

A copy of the extended emergency proclamation can be read here.