HEI - Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

23/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 24/08/2024 01:49

Hawaiian Electric monitoring expected weekend storm, assessing wildfire risk conditions

Hawaiian Electric monitoring expected weekend storm, assessing wildfire risk conditions

Customers should anticipate outages, possible Public Safety Power Shutoff

Release Date: 8/23/2024

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HONOLULU, Aug. 23, 2024 - With the approach of Tropical Storm Hone, Hawaiian Electric is preparing for hazardous conditions, including wind gusts that could lead to a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in areas of high wildfire risk.

At this time, Hawaiian Electric is monitoring for conditions that may lead to heightened fire risk and HAS NOT determined that a PSPS is needed. With many areas of the state in an extended drought, strong winds can further dry out vegetation, creating potential fuel for fire and heightening the risk of wildfire. The risk will be lessened if the storm brings heavy rain, but there may be parts of the islands, especially Oahu and Maui, that get relatively little rain in the coming days.

Customers should be ready for outages caused by high winds or, if they live in a high-risk wildfire area, a PSPS. Depending on conditions, Hawaiian Electric may implement its PSPS within the next 24 hours and proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. To see if you are in one of those communities, go to www.hawaiianelectric.com/pspsmaps. Hawaiian Electric will attempt to give affected customers as much notice as possible before a PSPS but if weather conditions are hazardous, there may be little or no notice.

The company urges customers to review family and business emergency plans, ensure they have supplies they need on hand, and keep close watch on the development of the storm. Preparation and safety tips are available at hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter. Detailed tips also may be found in our free Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, which can be downloaded from our website at hawaiianelectric.com/prepare. It is available in English, Cantonese, Ilocano, Korean, and Vietnamese languages, as well as a version for children.

For more information about the PSPS program, call Hawaiian Electric's PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS.

How you can prepare

Safety is always Hawaiian Electric's top priority. We urge customers to make it their 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 the weather 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:
    • Oahu: 1-855-304-1212
    • Hawaii: (808) 969-6666
    • Maui: (808) 871-7777
    • Molokai: 1-877-871-8461

How to stay informed

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