Hawaii Declares Disaster Emergency Over Homelessness

Hawaii has 7,620 homeless people

Hawaii Gov. Ige has signed a Disaster Emergency Proclamation to deal with the state’s homelessness disaster emergency.

In his Disaster Emergency Proclamation Ige admits that a recent statewide homeless count has highlighted a significant increase in homelessness for the entire State of Hawaii.

“…count of homeless individuals and families throughout Hawaii, estimates the total number of homeless individuals statewide is 7,620… the number of unsheltered homeless individuals is 3,843… the statewide Count estimates that there are 185 unsheltered families, which consist of a total of 439 unsheltered children throughout the state.”

“these unsheltered homeless individuals and families are living on privately owned and public lands, including the streets, public parks, beaches, and elsewhere on each island… these unsheltered homeless individuals and families are without access to portable toilets, bathrooms, showers and clean wate… these unsheltered homeless individuals and families require health and social services in order to maintain themselves safely and in reasonable health,” he said.

The Disaster Emergency Proclamation relief period has already commenced this week, and will last for sixty days, unless terminated by a separate proclamation, whichever occurs first, Ige said.

Full text of the governor’s Proclamation is posted at

Click to access 10.16-EMERGENCY-PROC-HOMELESSNESS-.pdf

Tourism in the Hawaiian Islands

The largest source of private capital into the Hawaiian Islands, tourism contributed at least $11.4 billion in visitor spending and $1 billion in tax revenue last year, according to Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA). “The HTA anticipates visitor spending to reach $12.6 billion, with $1.1 billion in tax revenue for 2011, and will work together with the industry to ensure that we continue to build on this positive momentum.”

Early Freeze Strikes US East Coast

Numerous Freeze Warnings, Watches, and Frost Advisories issued for 18 states in NE, Mid-Atlantic

The US National Weather Service has made the following forecast for the Middle Atlantic and Northeast:

Coldest airmass of the fall season has overspread the Middle Atlantic and Northeast; warming up this week

The coldest temperatures so far this season have overspread the Northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend. Numerous Freeze Warnings, Watches, and Frost Advisories are in effect. A warm-up is in store this week. Meanwhile, heavy rain and flash flooding continue to be possible in portions of the Southwest and Great Basin.

Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag warnings are in effect in eastern Kansas, SE Nebraska, Most of Iowa, N Illinois, NW Indiana and northern half of Missouri.

 

M5.9 Quake Strikes near Hihifo, Tonga

Centered at 16.255°S, 173.185°W, some 69km (43mi) ESE of Hihifo, Tonga, the quake struck at a depth of about 10.0 km (6.2 mi), reported USGS/EHP.

The event was followed by at lease three aftershocks measuring 4.8 to 5.1Mw.