David Y. Ige

HONOLULU — This afternoon, Gov. David Ige signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Ignacio. National Weather Service (NWS) has advised that even though Ignacio’s track is still highly uncertain, the system has the ability to cause widespread damage across the state.

The proclamation activates the Major Disaster Fund set aside by the Legislature for disaster relief for the entire state. It also allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels, along with the ability to suspend certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.

“We thank Governor Ige for his support during this crucial time, and are taking advantage of this pre-landfall period to ensure that we are as best prepared as possible,” said Vern Miyagi, Executive Officer of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. “With our whole state engulfed in the cone of uncertainty, we ask the public to continue their preparedness efforts and monitor news media for the latest updates regarding Hurricane Ignacio.”

The cone of uncertainty presents the probable track of a tropical cyclone and the area over which the center is most likely to pass. The path of the cone can be extremely unpredictable and the center of a storm can fall anywhere within that cone.

The latest update from NWS shows Ignacio located 780 miles east-southeast of Hilo in an area of weak wind shear, which could allow it to strengthen over the weekend. Currently a Category 1 hurricane, Ignacio’s northwesterly path could impact the entire state.

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