HONOLULU – As heavy rains, high winds and flooding continues over the islands of Kaua’i and O’ahu, Governor Neil Abercrombie this morning signed a disaster proclamation for both islands. The proclamation allows for any necessary and appropriate steps to be carried out; and provides for activation of civil defense and other emergency functions to ensure public health and safety.

Since, Saturday, March 3, Kaua’i and O’ahu have experienced extreme weather conditions resulting in property damage and losses. Weather forecast information indicates that heavy rains and flooding are expected to continue through today.  

The proclamation states:

“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 entire disaster proclamation can be viewed at this link:  http://hawaii.gov/gov/newsroom/disaster-emergency-proclamations/KauaiOahuEmergencyProc3.6.12.PDF  

The Governor’s actions today is in addition to his March 2 disaster proclamation authorizing the state Department of Transportation to begin emergency highway repair work on Kuhio Highway near Kilauea town on Kaua’i in response to a partial collapse of a 15-foot-diameter culvert running beneath the highway.