Ige signs 2nd emergency proclamation

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed today a second supplemental emergency proclamation adding housing and law-enforcement provisions to ensure the health and safety of the people who have been most affected by the ongoing Kilauea eruption.

“The lava flow has expanded and overrun more communities as it’s advanced, and earthquakes continue to rock the area,” Ige said in a press release. “Hundreds of structures have been destroyed, including residential homes. I’m working closely with Mayor Kim and FEMA to develop a housing plan, and this supplemental proclamation gives the county more options for suitable shelters and rapid rehousing efforts.”

The second supplemental proclamation permits the governor and/or mayor to take the following actions with respect to housing:

Establish guidelines for providing accommodations and shelter

Identify county, state and private locations and facilities suitable for use as shelters

Provide for relocation and rehabilitation for disaster victims

Make state lands available for housing

“As the size of the affected area has grown, so have the challenges of keeping the residents and their property safe,” Ige said. “We’ve had people who refuse to comply with officials who are trying to control access into extremely hazardous areas, putting themselves and our first responders at risk. The combined federal, state and county efforts are focused on the health and safety of our community. The emergency rules we are adopting will increase criminal penalties for those who do not obey emergency officials.”

The second supplemental proclamation sets criminal penalties for those violating emergency rules, including:

* Interfering with emergency personnel

* Failing to comply with reasonable directions of emergency personnel

* Failing to evacuate

* Violating curfew

The emergency rules also prohibit the operation of drones in the incident area.