Mayor Mitch Roth signed the Mayor’s December 5, 2021 Severe Weather Condition First Emergency Proclamation, declaring a state of emergency for the County of Hawaiʻi. The State of Emergency is due to the threat of imminent disaster on Hawaiʻi Island by way of potentially heavy rainfall, lightning, high winds associated with thunderstorms, and catastrophic flooding.

The emergency proclamation went into effect on Sunday, December 5 and is set to end on December 31, 2021, unless terminated earlier or extended by a separate proclamation, or whichever shall occur first.

In a statement Mayor Mitch Roth said, “By declaring an emergency, we can maximize response and guarantee that the necessary resources will be made available to our community, as they need them,  That said, we would like to encourage all of our residents to remain indoors and stay off the roadways as much as possible. There are many reports of fallen trees, downed powerlines, and other hazards that remain a risk, and we ask that everyone proceed with caution to keep each other safe.”