“After speaking with HECO, I was informed there are 8,000 homes without electricity, 6,000 of them in Ewa Beach. The storm last night downed utility poles, which created a traffic hazard on Fort Weaver Road. The City’s first priority is traffic safety and assisting people in getting home safely. State personnel, HPD officers and employees from our Department of Transportation Services and Department Emergency Management continue to assist people in the affected areas.

“We also want to make sure there is assistance available to those people at home who may be without power and with special needs such as medical equipment. Anyone facing an emergency situation should call 9-1-1. HPD is on alert and has sufficient numbers of operators available.

“It is critical that both sides of the labor dispute make sure that the health and safety of our citizens is everybody’s primary concern. Oahu remains under a flash flood watch until 6:00 tomorrow morning. Emergency managers are closely monitoring the situation to determine if further assets are needed.”