Hawai‘i Electric Light (HELCO) crews are working to safely restore power to customers who have lost electricity as a result of windy conditions affecting Hawai‘i Island Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. The windy conditions caused trees to fall into power lines and break lines.
Crews work to restore power. Photo courtesy HELCO.
“All available crews are responding to reports of downed power lines, trees on the lines and related issues due to the wind experienced on Hawai‘i Island on Tuesday,” said HELCO Spokesperson Rhea Lee-Moku. “Customers in multiple locations are impacted, our first priority is safety for our customers and our employees. We know what a hardship it is for our customers to be out of power. We sincerely apologize and want to assure them we are doing everything we can to safely restore service as quickly as possible.”
As power restoration efforts continue on Hawai‘i Island, HELCO would like to remind customers of important safety information:
Treat downed power lines as energized and dangerous.
Do not handle or move any fallen or damaged utility equipment.
Do not approach any downed power lines, as they may have electricity running through them and can be dangerous. If you see someone injured by a downed power line, do not approach them and call 9-1-1 for assistance.
Use generators outdoors and away from flammable materials. Generators connected directly to your home may feed excess electricity back into power lines, creating a public safety hazard. Plug appliances directly into your generator using extension cords.
Unplug unnecessary and sensitive electronic equipment. Use high-quality surge suppressors for electric appliances that remain plugged in.
Use batteries to power flashlights and lanterns. Do not use candles or other flammable fuel sources, as they are fire hazards.
Be aware of trees and utility poles that were weakened by storm winds and have the potential for falling.
Anyone who is without power and who is dependent on electric-powered life support medical equipment should make arrangements to go to an alternate location with power. They should bring their medical equipment and medications with them. They should also stay in contact with their medical equipment supplier for any special equipment needs.
If the service line directly to your home is down, call HELCO at (808) 969-6666.
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