Hawaiian Electric has deactivated its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch for West Maui.
This morning, the utility announced it would potentially cut power to some West Maui customers as a wildfire prevention measure during red-flag weather conditions.
HECO continued to monitor conditions throughout the afternoon. When the National Weather Service canceled the red flag warning for all Hawaiian Islands, HECO walked back the power shut-off watch. Ultimately, HECO did not shut off power to any customers during the watch.
Here’s what you need to know in the event of a power shut-off:
When will the power be shut off?
HECO says residents should be ready for a shut-off at any time once the Public Safety Power Shutoff program is activated. Electricity could stay off for hours to days, depending on when weather conditions improve. As it’s unclear when exactly the power will come back on, residents are advised to prepare for multiple days without power.
How do I know if I live in an area affected by this PSPS event?
HECO will send out alerts to affected customers via email, phone calls, texts and push notifications on their mobile app. They also send out updates over their social media channels. If you’re not sure if you live in an affected area, you can search your address on HECO’s website.
How do I prepare?
Emergency management officials urge people to prepare for power outages the same way they would get ready for a natural disaster. You can find more information about disaster preparedness here.
Avoid opening your refrigerator while the power is out. If the power is out for more than two hours, perishable food should be packed in coolers with ice. If you need food assistance during a power outage, you can find resources here.
Water service may be interrupted during a power outage. Most of Hawaiʻi's water infrastructure relies on electricity to pump water out of the ground, and residents are asked to conserve water as much as possible in the case of a PSPS event. Emergency management officials also advise residents to have a way to keep their phones charged for three to four days in order to receive emergency communications.
What if there's an emergency during a power outage?
Police departments and first responder services have backup generators and portable mobile radio repeaters for communications that are regularly tested. If you experience an emergency during a power outage, call 911.
Updates on this story have ended. For more information about HECO's PSPS program, click here.
