September is National Preparedness Month, (NPM). It’s crystal clear to our Nation that Preparing for Disasters must now include Pandemics. "Disasters Don’t Wait. Update your Ohana Plan Today." By Dennis A Terpin, Ph.D. retired Emergency Manager at the University of Illinois Chicago, Emergency Manager West Maui Taxpayers Association. (Please visit the westmaui.org web site for the complete recommendations from Dr. Terpin. ) Your Family Plans. September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and each September we should take time to revisit our Ohana and community disaster planning. Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes tomorrow. Your emergency plan should be based on an All Hazards approach. Proper planning will provide guidance on specific emergencies, consequences, required actions, written procedures, and the resources available in your area. Today is the time to update cell phone numbers, alternate contact details, and specific duties and responsibilities at all levels. September 2020, we find ourselves amidst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Last year incorporating pandemic planning into current planning was not a concern, COVID-19 was not a concern. It is now. Your revised plan should incorporate a basic understanding of the COVID-19 virus, how the virus can spread, and how we can reduce our exposure potential through proper use and cleaning of Face Coverings, practicing Social Distancing and repeated Hand Sanitizing. Community All Hazard Disaster Planning In preparing for the 2020 hurricane season, it is important that we prepare for responding to and recovery from operations that might be complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We should anticipate the added complexities of safeguarding our families during any emergency enhanced by the complexities of COVID-19. We need to take special precautions to protect the health and safety of evacuates, sheltered visitors, residents, survivors, family members and pets. One of the most important concepts that family members must achieve is adapting their family emergency plans to the COVID-19. Evacuations and shelters plans are part of preparing for any hurricane season. However, that could be dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic and further spread the virus by evacuating people from COVID-19 hotspots. If a person does have COVID-19 symptoms, the Red Cross has a plan in place. “First is to isolate them, keep them away from everybody else, make sure they stay masked and protected for their own good and for everybody else’s,” said American Red Cross Southeast Region Executive Director, John McFarland. “Then, as soon as it’s over, be sure that they’re given medical attention.”. COVID-19 is also modifying how food will be served to evacuees inside the shelter. “The way that we would do food would be a lot different because you can’t have open food. It would be package container type food,” said Harrison County Management Director Rupert Lacy. A special emphasis is also being placed on social distancing. Prepare your family for the 2020 Hurricane, COVID-19 and Flu season
Preparing to evacuate
Staying with friends or family If you will be staying with friends or family outside your household to evacuate from the storm:
Recovery Planning for 2020 Hurricane and All Hazards Season Given the complexity of operations in a COVID-19 environment, some aspects of recovery planning and posture will have to change to ensure the safety of disaster survivors and help prepare emergency managers and planners for the new challenges. The operational realities of the COVID-19 environment will require adaptations to many aspects of the Mass Care and Emergency Assistance service areas, particularly all stages of sheltering assistance. Due to the risks associated with COVID-19 and congregate sheltering, including standards for occupancy rates, equipment requirements, and assessment of at-risk or vulnerable populations is a must. Some consideration for your recovery efforts include but not limited to:
Conclusion Emergency planners and Emergency managers should review existing COOP programs and begin increasing planning and posturing with a focus on key changes necessitated by the COVID-19 environment. The failure to prepare and meet the requirements for maintaining social distancing, face covers, hand hygiene and the ability to follow CDC guidance limits our ability to protect the health and safety of our citizens, survivors, emergency response and recovery personnel. Failure to prepare can cause a negative impact on operational concepts such as sheltering plans, commodity distribution, and establishment of disaster facilities. September is National Preparedness Month. The time to update is now at all level of preparedness from the Ohana, County, State and Federal levels. Virus-free. www.avg.com
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From: Office of the Governor
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 9:09 PM To: Joe Pluta Subject: From the Office of Governor David Y. Ige [CS25614] EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HONOLULU David Y. Ige GOVERNOR June 3, 2020 Mr. Joseph Pluta PO Box 12278 181 Lahainaluna Road Suite I Lahaina, HI 96761 Dear Mr. Pluta: Thank you for contacting our office on June 1, 2020 to express your views and suggestions regarding tourism and the quarantine during COVID-19. Our staff will ensure that your comments are shared with Governor Ige. The global spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is very concerning to the Governor. This is a rapidly changing situation, and the Governor continues to work with county, state and federal partners to gather information and make decisions to protect the health of Hawaiʻi's residents. In efforts to support ongoing State and County responses to COVID-19, the Governor has issued several emergency proclamations which can be reviewed at https://governor.hawaii.gov/category/newsroom/emergency-proclamations/. The Governor's Eighth Supplemental Proclamation relates to persons traveling to the State or traveling inter-island. Visitors and returning or intended residents are subject to a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine with a few exceptions detailed in the proclamation orders. Additionally, the Department of Transportation provides FAQs about travel/quarantine at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/coronavirus/. The disaster emergency relief period shall continue through June 30, 2020, unless terminated or extended by a separate proclamation, whichever shall occur first. At this point in time, it is not possible to verify or confirm the date that any travel restrictions and quarantine requirements will be modified and/or rescinded. On June 1, 2020, Governor David Ige announced that the state will be lifting the 14-day quarantine requirement for inter-island travelers, effective June 16. The state Department of Transportation will require thermal screening at the airport for everyone traveling inter-island. HDOT will also require travelers to fill out a new form that will now also ask for health-related information to assist the state in tracking and responding to new COVID-19 cases. Hawaiʻi is slowly reopening within public health guidelines and safe practices. The Governor's emergency proclamation allows a county maximum flexibility to exercise its respective emergency management authority. This allows for flexibility between counties since COVID-19 infection rates and recovery on each island differ. Please know that county proclamations and orders may be more restrictive or more lenient. You should consult with county authorities about their requirements and restrictions:
With warmest regards, Office of the Governor State of Hawaiʻi |
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