Governor Josh Green, M.D.

May 21 through 27 was proclaimed “Hurricane Preparedness Week” by Governor Josh Green, M.D. during the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 2023 Hurricane Forecast News Conference. NOAA’s outlook for the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, predicted a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season, a 30 percent chance of an above-normal season, and a 30 percent chance of a below-normal season. 

“It only takes one storm to affect your life, your family, and your community; and before hurricane season begins, the State of Hawai‘i encourages everyone to learn about their vulnerability to hurricane hazards, develop an emergency plan, and have two weeks of emergency supplies to ensure the safety of ourselves and our loved ones,” said Governor Green.

Governor Green also stressed the fact that households with kūpuna in need of medication have at least two weeks of medication on hand in case of emergency, as a disruption caused by an event like a hurricane would impact the ability to have access to needed medications. 

This summer, NOAA plans to implement a series of upgrades and improvements that will expand the capacity of its operational supercomputing system by 20 percent. This increase in computing capability will enable NOAA to improve and run more complex forecast models, including significant model upgrades this hurricane season.

In addition to creating more awareness of the upcoming hurricane season, Governor Green issued a special message to congratulate the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the All-Hazards Upgrade to the National Public Warning System (NPWS) facility at KHKA-AM 1500, a Honolulu radio station. 

KHKA was selected as a Primary Entry Point facility and is joining a network of 77 broadcast stations nationwide that serve as a designated, hardened national alert system during times of crisis. In the event of a catatrophic emergency, KHKA will turn over its programming to government agencies and other stakeholders to broadcast emergency messages to the community. KHKA is the first NPWS station in Hawaiʻi and is owned and operated by aio, LLC.