HONOLULU (KHON2) — As of 8 a.m. on July 8, the Public Safety Power Shutoff watch continues for communities with high wildfire risk on Maui and Hawai‘i Island, and power remains on.
Watch condition for Maui and Hawaiʻi Island started July 5.
HECO warned that power may be proactively shut off in PSPS areas, which can be found under PSPS maps. They will continue to monitor the threat from high winds and dry conditions.
Determinations for PSPS are made based on weather conditions.
What is the PSPS process?
Power will turn off and remain out until hazardous weather conditions improve.
Before service can be restored, an inspection of power lines will occur to repair any damage.
HECO said this process may result in outages lasting several hours, possibly even days, depending on the location and extent of damage.
How to prepare for a PSPS
HECO recommended building an outage supply kit with the following items:
- First aid kit
- Bottled water
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Nonperishable food
- Manual can opener
- Battery-operated radio
- External rechargeable battery pack
- Special-needs items for infants, elderly or disabled
Residents are encouraged to prepare their home by doing the following:
- Keep important phone numbers where they can be found easily in an emergency.
- Place flashlights and battery-powered lanterns in handy locations around your home.
- Install surge protectors to help safeguard electronic equipment.
- Get acquainted with your home’s utility boxes (electricity, water and gas), and learn how to turn them off. Make sure you have easy access to the necessary tools to do so.
- Frequently back up important work and files on your computer.
- Learn how to manually open your automatic garage doors or gates.
- Keep the gas tank or charge level in at least one car half-full at all times.
- Identify an outdoor location where you can safely use a backup generator. Never use a generator indoors.
- Review your family safety plan regularly, including how you’ll address the needs of infants, the elderly, people with disabilities and pets.
HECO warned that outages unrelated to the PSPS program can still occur from high winds and other conditions.
For more information and maps, call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to their website.