HIEMA director discusses Hawaii National Guard response during Lala recovery

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii National Guard is supporting local crews after deadly flooding, widespread power outages and damage across the islands in the wake of Hurricane Lala.

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Major General Steven Logan, Hawaii’s adjutant general and director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation Thursday that allowed the Guard to bring soldiers and airmen onto status.

“It gives me the authority and the funding to be able to bring a lot of soldiers and airmen on status,” Logan said.

Guard teams deployed across four counties

Logan said about 200 Guard members are spread across all four counties, with the primary focus on Hawaii Island because of what he described as major impacts there.

He said teams on the Big Island include high water vehicle teams, which he described as vehicles with a higher capacity to ford streams. Those teams are partnered with county first responders, including the Hawaii County Fire Department and police department.

Logan said Hawaii Island suffered flooding and heavy rain that washed away some structures, adding that the Guard has been working closely with the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and Mayor Kimo Alameda and his staff.

Logan said statewide coordination meetings allow all agencies to work together to assess conditions and allocate teams accordingly.

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Logan said military assets are on Hawaii Island to help clear roadways and look for people who might have been in structures that were washed away.

Logan said helicopter assets in Hilo will launch if weather conditions permit.

Disaster declaration process underway

Logan said Green has begun the major disaster declaration process, adding that HIEMA has been compiling disaster information, comparing the situation to storms the state experienced between February and April of last year.

He said the process will be followed by a joint damage assessment team that will quantify the damages.

Logan said the state has support pledged from active duty military formations in Hawaii, and he has received calls from counterparts on the mainland. The state could bring in the National Guard from other states and territories through an emergency management assistance compact if needed.

“I’m not sure that we’re at that point yet,” Logan said. “There are still additional National Guard soldiers and airmen that I can call upon, and I can bring them in, if the situation dictates.”

Logan said the Guard is fully committed to supporting all four counties during the cleanup process, as it has during past disasters.

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