Hawaiian Electric preparing for potential impacts from Mauna Loa eruption
Release Date: 12/1/2022
HILO, Dec. 1, 2022 – Hawaiian Electric is preparing for potential impacts from the Mauna Loa eruption that began late Sunday, Nov. 27. The company activated its Incident Management Team and has been working closely with Hawaii County Civil Defense, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and other agencies to monitor and evaluate the lava flows.
“We want to assure the community that we’re ready and able to respond,” said Kristen Okinaka, spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric. “Because of the unpredictable nature of the flows, we’re developing several plans to keep power on and will put into action the plan that best fits the situation. The safety of employees and community is our top priority.”
Plans include, but are not limited to:
- Rerouting power if lava impacts transmission lines on Saddle Road
- Completing critical maintenance work
- Ensuring sufficient fuel supply for company-owned facilities and vehicles
- Assessing alternate driving routes for outage response
- Staging areas for vehicles and equipment
The company will provide more specific information on how customers could be impacted if the flow nears its facilities. As with any natural disaster, the community is encouraged to be prepared for possible power outages and follow the advice of Civil Defense and first responders.
Hawaiian Electric’s free “Handbook for Emergency Preparedness” is available in English, Cantonese, Ilocano, Korean, and Vietnamese. The handbook includes detailed information on preparing for emergency situations and is available on the Hawaiian Electric website and at public libraries, Ace Hardware, Ben Franklin, and Sunshine True Value Hardware. To request a handbook by U.S. mail, please call (808) 969-0137.
As there are new developments, updates will be provided to the media and community and also posted on Hawaiian Electric’s website, Twitter (@HIElectricLight), and Facebook (HawaiianElectric) accounts.
