Hawaiian Electric monitoring wildfire risk conditions

Posted on Oct 16, 2024 in Hot Topics, Main

Hawaiian Electric monitoring wildfire risk conditions

HONOLULU, Oct. 16, 2024 – The National Weather Service today has issued a red flag warning for the state of Hawaiʻi for the hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Hawaiian Electric is monitoring high winds and dry conditions across the state, which may lead to an increased risk of wildfires. If necessary, Hawaiian Electric may implement its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program to proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. Customers in these areas are urged to implement their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

For more information and maps, call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS.

What we’re doing

At Hawaiian Electric, we have activated our PSPS emergency response plan, which includes:

  • Closely monitoring weather
  • Deploying observers to monitor conditions and look out for any fire risks
  • Coordinating with state and county emergency response officials
  • Urging customers to prepare for possible power outages and to make safety their top priority

How you can prepare

Safety is always Hawaiian Electric’s top priority. We urge customers to make it their top priority, too:

  • Check emergency equipment such as flashlights, emergency generators, battery-operated (hand-crank or solar) radios, light sticks, and lanterns to be sure they are operational, and buy extra batteries.
  • Make sure you have a battery-powered radio on hand to listen for updates on theweather conditions and possible PSPS activation.
  • If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go if an evacuation is ordered. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
  • If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
  • Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.
  • Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. If an outage occurs, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.
  • Don’t venture out in the dark, because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris.
  • If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. For emergency assistance call 911. For Hawaiian Electric, call our Trouble Line:
    • Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212
    • Hawaiʻi: (808) 969-6666
    • Maui: (808) 871-7777
    • Molokaʻi: 1-877-871-8461

 

How to stay informed

Hawaiian Electric will provide updates frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources:

# # #

Download (PDF, 194KB)