US President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in Hawaii and ordered assistance to supplement local response efforts because of the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Lane beginning on August 22, 2018, and continuing.
This action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, in order to alleviate the suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measure.
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Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
In addition, US Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii not currently undergoing maintenance have begun to sortie as Hurricane Lane travels toward the Hawaiian Islands. Ships that sortie will be positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.
What is more, The US Coast Guard has issued an alert for storm for Hawaii’s seaports, as Hurricane Lane is expected to arrive. Namely, the US Coast Guard Captain of the Port set port condition ZULU for Honolulu County ports in advance of Hurricane Lane. Hawaii and Maui County ports remain at Zulu, as well as Kauai county. ZULU means that winds above 39 mph are expected within 12 hours and will be in place until the storm has passed and is no longer a threat.