Hawaiian Electric to host informational event on Public Safety Power Shutoff program, wildfire safety

Hawaiian Electric representatives will be in Kona on Aug. 19 to talk to residents about wildfire safety and the newly instated Public Safety Power Shutoff program.

The power company is hosting a free Community Resilience Fair in the cafeteria at Kealakehe High School, located at 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., from 4 to 7 p.m. Also at the event will be representatives from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, Hawai‘i Police Department, Department of Water Supply, Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Association, Hawai‘i Energy, Vibrant Hawai‘i, Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i, and other organizations will share information, tools and resources to help communities prepare and plan for emergencies as well as build resilience to severe weather-related events fueled by climate change.

The public event will feature an open house with information booths from 4-5 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.

From 5 to 6 p.m., there will be a community meeting about Hawaiian Electric’s Wildfire Safety Strategy which includes enhanced safety procedures, video cameras, weather stations, and a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program.

Retired news reporter Sherry Bracken will moderate a panel discussion about resilience and the importance of emergency preparedness.

Representatives from Hawaiian Electric, Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, Hawai‘i Fire Department, Hawai‘i Police Department, Department of Water Supply, and Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Association will serve as panelists. The meeting will be recorded and posted on Hawaiian Electric’s website and aired on Nā Leo TV after the event.

Hawaiian Electric invites the community to learn more about its PSPS program by attending an in-person or virtual event. A current list of events is available on the company’s website hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS or by calling the toll-free PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666.

For more information about the Community Resilience Fair or to request a presentation for your organization on Hawai‘i Island, email CommunityRelations.HawaiiIsland@hawaiianelectric.com.