FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     March 3, 2006

Release M-21-06

FLOOD ASSISTANCE EFFORT

            Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann says workers from several city departments will continue to provide assistance and clean up in the aftermath of the heavy rainfall and flooding in Windward Oahu over the past few days.

            “We want to move as quickly as possible to help our residents get back to normal,” Hannemann said.  “City workers will roll up their sleeves and get to work in several areas.”

            Hannemann said crews from the Environmental Services Department will be working to sanitize those areas where sewage spills occurred due to the heavy rains.  Those crews will also be available to help residents who need their cesspools pumped out.

            “Our first priority is the public’s health and safety,” Hannemann said, “and our ENV crews will address that.”

            The Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department will be available, ready to help residents who call for assistance.  The police have undertaken the job of traffic control, and fire crews have been helping people pump excess water from their homes and yards.

            Crews from the Department of Facility Maintenance, who’ve been assisting the State DOT in clearing roadways of debris, will be back on pothole patrol tomorrow.  Hannemann said hot asphalt patches will be applied to streets and roads in need.

            Parks workers will be busy cleaning up debris putting the city parks back in shape.  All parks, with the exception of Kualoa Beach Park will be open.

            And The Bus is back to its normal schedule as of earlier today.  The Bus plans to operate its regular Saturday schedule tomorrow.

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Contact:

              Bill Brennan, 527-6928

              Mark Matsunaga, 527-5784