Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, April 28, 2023

THE LAST PUBLIC INPUT  FOR THE STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE will be a meeting on Wednesday, May 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a virtual option, and through sending in comments until May 9, only through https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HISHMP2023.
    Links to the virtual meeting May 3 will be provided soon.

    Federal Emergency Management Agency approval and State adoption of regularly updated State Hazard Management Plans are mandatory for State of Hawai‘i to obtain federal assistance for hazard mitigation and for repair and replacement of infrastructure damaged in natural disasters.
James Barros, administrator of HawaI'i Emergency Management Administration, said the plan is updated every five years "because they’re a key tool we use to reduce or eliminate the harm caused by the hazards we face across Hawai‘i. The State and counties rely on these hazard mitigation plans to guide their efforts to protect communities against the threats of flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis and other hazards." Barros noted that hazards evolve over time and are different from island to island.

    See https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f60e1a0a7dfc4069a0ea862108023c43/page/Public-Participation/. Also visit the HI-EMA website at https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/sert-resources/hazard-mitigation/.

COVER THE LOAD IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK or be fined is a reminder sent out by Hawai’i Police Department. "While transporting cargo on any public roadway or highway, your load must be covered. Most of the litter on or near our roadways is not intentionally thrown. Rather, it has more often than not, been blown out of open-bed pickup trucks, thereby potentially causing a road hazard or a traffic collision."
    A statement from HPD that anytime traveling with a loaded truck bed, trailer, or roof rack, make sure to properly secure the load by:
   Tying down the load with rope or straps.
    Tying large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer.
    Covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp (which is then tied down) or netting.
    HPD also recommends, "After tying down a load double check to make sure that nothing can slide, fall, or shift out of your vehicle. Check your car manual to make sure you aren’t overloading your vehicle."
    According to Hawai‘i Revised Statute 291C-13231, the penalties for first-time violators of the law can expect a fine of $250 to $500. A second violation, if cited within a year after the first, delivers a fine of between $500 and $750, plus suspension of the vehicle registration and/or license of the driver for at least five working days.