Mayor Carvalho Visits Kōloa, Hanalei Communities

Mayor Carvalho visits Kōloa, Hanalei communities

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and county officials on Friday and Saturday visited residents in Kōloa and Hanalei affected by the recent flood. County officials also toured Kahiliholo Road in Kilauea which suffered major flood-related damage.

“I am determined to visit all of our affected communities, so that I can personally see what our people, from all parts of the island, continue to face in the aftermath of the storm,” said Mayor Carvalho. “I hope all who were affected will attend our community meetings next week so that we can further provide important information and resources that will assist in their recovery.”

Mayor Carvalho and county officials also plan to visit residents affected by the flood in the Keapana and Anahola areas in the upcoming days.

Community meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Kōloa Neighborhood Center, Wednesday at Anahola Clubhouse, and Thursday at Hanalei Elementary School.

To request an ASL interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aid support, or an interpreter for a language other than English, please contact the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 241-1800 or kema@kauai.gov.

Department of Water (DOW) officials were notified Saturday afternoon of a waterline break on Wainiha Powerhouse Road. Crews repaired the leak and water was restored to residents at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The following information provides the current status updates.

County’s Point of Contact in Wainiha: Planning Director Michael Dahilig remains the county’s point of contact stationed in Wainiha. He is available daily at the Camp Naue fuel distribution point from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hanalei Colony Resort.

Current Road Closures and Repairs:

· Kūhiō Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed to the public as crews work to clear multiple landslides. HDOT has opened a one-lane emergency access to Wainiha and Hā‘ena, exclusively for designated emergency responders and coordinated disaster recovery operations.

· For residents affected by the Kahiliholo Road closure in Kīlauea, an emergency access road has been opened for local traffic only through the privately owned Common Ground and Wai Koa Guava Plantation properties.

· Lei O Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole.

· Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed.

· HDOT continues to inspect bridges in the flood-affected areas on Kaua‘i. No structural issues were found on any of the inspected bridges. An inspection of Wailua River Bridge will be performed when inspectors are able to view the pier structures in Wailua River, according to HDOT. Crews continue to clear debris in the river.

For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kaua‘i police 911 unless you have an emergency. Damage to roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure may be reported to the KEMA EOC at 241-1800.

Mail: On Tuesday, May 1, county officials will collect outgoing mail from isolated Wainiha and Hā‘ena residents at the Hanalei Colony Resort from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Only letter-class mail will be accepted. Officials will have postage stamps for sale at the drop-off site, on a limited basis. The collected mail will be transported by a county official and delivered to the Kīlauea Post Office for processing by the U.S. Postal Service.

Refuse Collection and Debris Management: Department of Public Works officials will continue to collect limited bulky items and flood-related debris in the Wainiha-Hā‘ena area. Residents are asked to leave out bulky items and flood-related debris along Kūhiō Highway or the county’s right of way. A regular schedule for bulky item collection has not yet been set.

Household trash will be collected on Monday, April 30, for residents in Wainiha and Hā‘ena. Residents are asked to bag and secure their trash, and set it out on Sunday evening. If you do not have a county trash bin, please bag and secure your trash by 7 a.m. on Monday.

In Hanalei, residents may continue to use the bins staged at Waioli Park to dispose mixed refuse, green waste and metals. These bins will be available until Tuesday, May 1.

The Hanalei refuse transfer station, located in Princeville, will allow the disposal of bulky items and continue its extended hours to 5:15 p.m., until Wednesday, May 2. Regular hours and services will be resumed on Thursday, May 3. Regular hours are from 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and size restriction for solid waste is three feet in length.

A bulky item pickup for residents on Kalihiwai Valley Road has been scheduled for 7 a.m. on Monday, April 30. Residents in the area are asked to place their items out the night prior. Household trash pick-up for residents on Kahiliholo Road has resumed to its normal Tuesday schedule.

In the Kōloa area, in the vicinity of Waila‘au Road and Aloha Place, residents may continue to use the bins available for mixed waste and metals through Tuesday, May 1.

The Kekaha Landfill will resume regular hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, April 28.

Fuel: Approximately 715 gallons of fuel have been distributed since Monday. Fuel will continue to be distributed to residents in Wainiha-Hā‘ena between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily from Camp Naue. Each physical address is allowed five gallons of gasoline per week, and staff will either fill your vehicle or a container. To collect gas, please bring your ID and your own container.

Department of Health:

· Medical Services at Hanalei Colony Resort: The medical team deployed to Hā‘ena jointly by the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), Hawai‘i Healthcare Emergency Management (HHEM), and KEMA, has been operating out of Hanalei Colony Resort since Friday, April 20. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with after-hours care provided for urgent needs. There have been 226 patients treated for skin and wound infections, abrasions and other injuries that are common following flooding events. In addition, they have also seen many patients for chronic health conditions, resupply of prescription medications and tetanus boosters. The medical team will remain in place while the need exists. The team is able to meet the healthcare needs of the community at this time and is not currently in need of medical volunteers.

· Mental Health Services: A mental health counselor from the Department of Health will be stationed out of Hanalei Colony Resort until the afternoon on Sunday, April 29, to provide counseling services to affected residents. After determining the overall need in the community, DOH will continue to provide mental health services as necessary. Natural disasters are stressful and can cause emotional reactions, which everyone experiences differently. Taking care of your emotional and mental health will go a long way while trying to recover from a natural disaster. Talk to your family members and friends to maintain a strong support system. Help your children by sharing age-appropriate information and being honest. Set a good example for children by taking care of yourself. Take breaks and unwind periodically and ask for help if you need it. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, eligibility for mental health services is very broad and services are available to anyone with needs related to the disaster. Mental health services are also available via phone at the following:

• Kaua‘i Family Guidance Center: 808-274-3883 (M-F 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

• Kaua‘i Community Mental Health Center Branch: 808-274-3190 (M-F 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

• Crisis Line of Hawai‘i (24/7): 1-800-753-6879

• Child and Family Service’s Hawai‘i Parent Line: 1-800-816-1222 (M-F 8 a.m. –6 p.m. / Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

• Disaster Distress Helpline (nationwide 24/7): 1-800-985-5990, TTY 1-800-846-8517, Text TalkWithUs to 66746

· Stay out of brown water: For the latest updates on brown water advisories, visit DOH’s Clean Water Branch website at http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/. The public is advised to stay out of floodwaters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas.

· Practice good sanitation: Wash your hands often with soap and clean water to prevent spreading and contracting any illnesses, especially before handling and preparing food to avoid food contamination. If soap and clean water is unavailable, hand sanitizer may be used instead.

· Mosquito concerns: Mosquitoes can and will breed in areas of standing water. Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET to exposed skin and wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, and covered shoes. If you’re located in an area that wasn’t as heavily impacted, get rid of standing water where you can. Department of Health vector control staff will be available to conduct mosquito abatement activities, including surveillance and treatment. Please call Environmental Health Vector Control at 241-3306.

· Food safety tips: Make sure to throw away spoiled or unrefrigerated food to prevent foodborne illnesses. Minimize the presence of flies and rodents by disposing of food in covered and sealed containers.

· Get rid of items collecting mold: Exposure to mold can have harmful health effects. Mold can begin to grow within 24-48 hours after flooding. Remove standing water as quickly as possible. Take steps to dry out your home and remove wet materials and objects. Items that cannot be cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours should be discarded. Make sure to follow label instructions and wear protective gear (i.e. gloves, face masks, etc.) when using cleaners and disinfectants during the cleanup process.

Animals: The Kaua‘i Humane Society will be offering free veterinarian services from 9 to 11 a.m. daily at the Hanalei Colony Resort for the isolated Wainiha and Hā‘ena communities. They have also provided pet food to the distribution sites at Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort.

Donation Information: For those sheltering in place, Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort have been serving as distribution points for food, water and other provisions.

Those who wish to provide donations are asked to coordinate with KEMA at 241-1800. Accepted items are being are limited to non-perishables, bottled water, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, diapers, baby food and formula. Donations are currently being accepted at the following locations:

· Food Bank of Hawai‘i – Kaua‘i Branch (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

· Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Additional Resource Links:
· ready.hawaii.gov

· Flood Damage Claims FAQ: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/flood-damage-claims-frequently-asked-questions-2/

· Repairing Your Flooded Home: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/resource-from-the-american-red-cross-repairing-your-flooded-home/

FAA Temporary Flight Restriction: The Federal Aviation Agency has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction in the Hanalei and Wainiha area, particularly restricting all aircraft and UAS (drones). Please avoid the area to help ensure the safety our first responders during their ongoing emergency operations.