May 2020
Dept. of Transportation Monthly Newsletter
Connecting the DOTs... Hawaii Receives CARES Act Fund to Support Transit Industry During COVID-19
By: Pradip Pant
• Lost revenue is an eligible expense under the CARES Act.
Transit providers have seen a drastic decrease in ridership and revenue as a result of social distancing while incurring unplanned costs for health and safety. On March 27th, the CARES Act was signed into law providing $2 trillion in support for a variety of industries affected by COVID 19, including the transit industry. The CARES Act provides an unprecedented $25 billion in funding to support the transit industry response to COVID 19. Hawaii will receive $107.6 million. Honolulu City and County will receive the bulk of the fund at $90.8 million and the remaining three county transit agencies will collectively receive $16.8 million. The CARE Acts supplementary funds can be used to cover:
To implement this provision, FTA will reimburse any eligible expenses that occurred on or after January 20, 2020, including eligible expenses that would have otherwise been paid for by the lost revenue. This includes all of the expenses normally eligible under Urbanized Area Formula Grants (Section 5307) or the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (Section 5311) that occurred on or after January 20, 2020, at a 100% Federal share. • All net operating expenses (after subtracting fare revenues from the eligible operating expenses) are eligible under Section 5307 and Section 5311 for all recipients in large urban, small urban, and rural areas that are incurred on or after January 20, 2020 • Administrative leave for operations employees (including employees performing maintenance): Administrative leave is an administratively authorized absence from duty without loss of pay or reduction in an employee’s available leave. See CARES page 2
CONNECTING THE DOTs Editor-in-Chief: Lynn Araki-Regan Managing Editor: Rae Nguyen Art Director: Frank Uratani Column Writer: Melanie Martin
Contributors: Jade Butay Darren Cantrill Derek Chow Laurent Kergall Shelly Kunishige Pradip Pant Rachel Roper Tim Sakahara Kurt Sanehira Robert Sequeira Ed Sniffen
Contents CARES Act ..................................... 1 Director’s Message ................... 3 Administration ............................ 4 Airports .......................................... 7 Harbors ....................................... 10 Highways .....................................12 COVID-19: Get Help ............... 16
CARES continued from page 1
In the context of the COVID-19 public health emergency, administrative leave could include, but is not limited to, leave for an employee who is not required to work due to a reduction in service or leave for a worker who is quarantined after potential exposure to an individual infected with COVID-19. • Operations and maintenance service contracts for service provided, or to pay for administrative leave of contractor operations or maintenance personnel. There is no limit on the amount of CARES Act funds that may be used for operating, capital, or planning expenses. There is also no limit on the amount of CARES Act funds that may be used for paratransit service.
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Tips for Teleworking ............... 17 Preparation for Hurricane Season ......................................... 18 HDOT Face Masks Contest Winners Announced.................19
Message from our Director
By: Jade Butay
Dear HDOT Ohana, A lot has changed in a month. Governor Ige has extended the stay-athome order and the 14-day traveler quarantine through May 31. I firmly believe that Governor David Ige’s decisions in support of social distancing are the reason Hawaii has the third-lowest per capita infection rate of any state. We all need to remember that there have been 16 deaths as of April 28 from COVID-19 and there is still no vaccine or cure. Social distancing and good hygiene are critical in protecting your health and the health of your families, neighbors, and friends. I am very grateful for the work by all the divisions in responding to this public health emergency. Some of the great work being done includes:
• Administration staff calling arriving residents to ensure they are abiding to the 14-day quarantine; • Airports staff assisting with the enhanced verification process and ensuring that all airports are sanitized; • Harbors staff coordinating with harbor users on importing goods that end up on our supermarket shelves; and • Highways staff pushing projects by making use of technology to ensure we receive federal stimulus funding that will help boost our economy. In addition, the HDOT is continuing to provide DLIR support with the volume of unemployment claims. We also ordered and distributed cloth masks to all HDOT employees. A big mahalo to First Deputy Lynn Araki-Regan for spearheading this effort. In this trying time, please remember that we are in this together. If you have any questions or concerns regarding potential COVID-19 exposure, our hotline remains available at (808) 208-1040 or (808) 271-6424. Thank you for taking the time to read our monthly newsletter. Let’s stand ready to do our part to help Hawaii recover from this unprecedented disaster. Mahalo, Jade T. Butay
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Administration
Lynn Araki-Regan Named Outstanding Club Toastmaster of the Year By: Melanie Martin Transportation Toastmasters is proud to announce Lynn Araki-Regan as Outstanding Club Toastmaster of the Year 2019-2020! Araki-Regan, Deputy Director for Administration, has been a member of the Transportation Toastmasters Club for about a year, and is the Vice-President of Public Relations. Her enthusiasm for the Transportation Toastmasters Club shines through on each of her social media posts, and her energy is responsible for the large influx of members. Our Club President, Royden Koito, could not be more pleased with the Club’s growth. “As the VP of Public Relations, Lynn has been the driving force behind the increase in interest and membership of our club,” Koito said. Lynn’s fellow Toastmasters unanimously voted for her, and all agreed that it was an easy choice. New Toastmaster Kathy Miyahira states, “Lynn’s passion in every speech she gives is filled with energy and encouragement for us to do better.”
not only to Transportation Toastmasters, but to the entire HDOT. “Lynn has been a great blessing to our club. But more than that, she has been instrumental in making the Hawaii DOT a more lively place to work, not just by reintroducing Toastmasters but in creating more venues for collegiate interaction, health and wellness, and overall morale of DOT employees.” Lynn credits President Royden and her peers as she humbly states, “There are so many others more deserving of this honor. I am truly inspired by Royden’s leadership and so many of you whose energy and positive vibes make our Toastmasters meeting so enjoyable.”
A seasoned Toastmaster, Maaza Mekuria, had this to say about Lynn’s commitment
Congratulations Lynn! We are all very proud of you!
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Administration HDOT Employees Do Their Part to Keep Our Community Safe By: Melanie Martin HDOT has teamed up with the Hawaii Tourism Authority to ensure that both visitors and residents who travel to Hawaii are abiding by the mandatory 14-day quarantine, by making calls to their place of lodging or residences. During the last week of April, HDOT employees from the Administration Division made approximately 1100 calls to residents. “Most of the residents are appreciative and happy that we are calling them,” said Juli Chun, one of the team leaders. At the airport, screeners issue an Order for Quarantine, and information about the 14-day self-quarantine requirements. After a temperature check and completing paperwork, passengers and residents are allowed to leave the airport. The State of Hawaii agricultural forms with passengers’ contact information are scanned into an excel spreadsheet and uploaded to a shared file. Callers use the Grasshopper Application on their personal cell phones, and, with a
few exceptions, most staff make calls while teleworking at home. Approximately 250 residents are added to the call log daily. For each resident, callers attempt to reach them at least two to three times. An HDOT Hotline is set up for residents to call, and is manned by employees from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. Some residents have broken quarantine, and callers refer them to the proper authorities. “This is our way of helping to keep our community safe,” said Melanie Martin, who is one of the employees manning the hotline. “I joke around that I don’t know how to sew face masks to give away to frontline workers, but I know how to talk.” “I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to all of the callers for stepping forward to safeguard our state during these difficult times. They have been extremely generous offering to do what they can to meet the needs of our state. It speaks volumes to their aloha spirit that they understand that the way we’ll get through this pandemic is by working together,” said Director Jade Butay. We’d like to give a big shout out and thank all of our employees who have volunteered to help with calling residents! You play a very important role in helping to “flatten the curve” and re-open our economy! If you would like to help make calls, please contact Melanie at melanie.martin@hawaii.gov, or Juli at juli.l.chun@hawaii.gov.
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Administration
Pradip Pant Appointed as National RTAP Board Member STP Planning Program Administrator Pradip Pant has been appointed as a National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) Review Board Member for a three-year term starting Spring 2020. Under a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) cooperative agreement, the National RTAP addresses the training and technical assistance
By: Statewide Transportation Planning Office
needs of rural and tribal transit operators across the nation and supports the state RTAP programs. The Review Board provides guidance in developing products to support State RTAP efforts and assist rural and tribal transit providers. Products may include training modules, webbased applications, and other online tools, workbooks, videos, technical assistance briefs, brochures, and other material pertinent to aiding rural transportation providers.
Tad Nakayama Joins Statewide Transportation Planning
By: Pradip Pant
Tad Nakayama joined STP as a section Manager responsible for FTA rural transit grant programs. Tad has a career total of 33 years of engineering and planning experience with 26 years at the DOT. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Business Administration from Chaminade University. Prior to DOT, as a network planner with GTE Hawaiian Tel (now Hawaiian Telcom), Tad was involved in the development of the disaster restoration plan for the Island of Kauai due to Hurricane Iniki. It resulted in Kauai being the first island in the State to have an all-digital and disaster hardened network.
he was fortunate to have the opportunity to manage the design and construction projects to create a new central Checkpoint (No.3), as well as, renovate the main terminal at Honolulu International Airport. Tad is excited to work in STP again to implement his vision for STP-P and more importantly, to maximize FTA funding towards the neighbor island transit agencies so they can help the people of Hawaii get to where they need to go. Tad cooks for his family, raises vegetables, and enjoys woodworking.
As a project manager with Airports Division, PAGE 6
Cy Duvauchelle Joins KOA ‘Ohana
Airports
By: Rae Nguyen
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is expanding its family with the new addition of its Assistant Airport Superintendent V. Cy Duvauchelle, who came out of retirement after 42 years with Hawaiian Airlines, was delighted to come back to the workforce. “After four years of retirement, I realized it wasn’t for me. I’m excited to be back and am enjoying the experience and most of all - the socializing.” Even during the COVID-19 crisis, Duvauchelle was already hitting the ground running - overseeing temperature and document verification procedures, liaising with the National Guard, and working with various airlines. Duvauchelle hopes to implement changes to
ease holding area congestion and assist in finding solutions to guest and stakeholder issues and concerns. Happily married for 20 years to wife Charmaine, his 17-year old daughter, Meleana will soon graduate from Kamehameha, Kapalama campus. Duvauchelle is an avid photographer, with a passion for photographing hula. He also enjoys shoreline fishing, traveling to Asian destinations and loves to cook Japanese cuisine.
KOA Joins Sweet Send-Off for TSA’s Bob Kawamoto By: Rae Nguyen
Camaraderie between KOA’s TSA and DOT goes beyond professionalities. In fact, it was no surprise when the State received an invite to Bob Kawamoto’s retirement party. Kawamoto, who was TSA’s Asst. Federal Security Director, was originally with the State.
Kawamoto and KOA’s From left: TSA’s Sharlene Mata, Bob for pictures at Bob’s ADM Chauncey Wong Yuen pose retirement party.
Chauncey Wong Yuen and staff were both excited to see their friend and ally start a new chapter in his life. Best wishes Bob. We will miss you. PAGE 7
Airports
Improved Verification Process Implemented for Airline Passengers
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has implemented improved measures to verify incoming passenger information before they leave the airport to help ensure people are abiding by the traveler quarantine order. The enhanced process is underway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and will begin statewide in the coming days. Hawaii was the first state in the country to implement a traveler self-quarantine order and the process is evolving and improving every day. The 14 day traveler self-quarantine process encompasses several different agencies which are coordinating with each other, with Kenneth Hara, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) Director, serving as the overall operations lead. Arriving passengers on trans-Pacific flights will
continue to fill out the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture declaration form. After landing they will have their temperature taken. Anyone with a high temperature will receive a medical assessment by paramedics stationed at the airport. Passengers who do not have a fever will continue through the process. An airport representative will review the declaration form to make sure it is complete. The passenger will move to the order for self-quarantine station. The person will also initial and sign the mandatory order for self-quarantine form confirming they are aware they must self-quarantine for 14 days. By signing the legal document, they acknowledge they understand violating the order is a criminal offense and they See VERIFICATION on page 9
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Airports passenger information yesterday. The process is slower, but it is effective,” said Director Jade Butay. “People must understand this is not the time to be vacationing in Hawaii, but if they do, they must abide by the traveler quarantine order and be prepared to stay inside for
VERIFICATION continued from page 8
are subject to a $5,000 fine and/or a year imprisonment. An airport representative will collect the two forms and begin verifying their information. First, they will call their mobile phone number to confirm it rings right in front of them. If it does not ring, the person may have listed inaccurate information and is asked to verify the number. If the person refuses to provide a phone number that can be answered on the spot, law enforcement is contacted and they are subject to citation and arrest. After the phone number is verified, an airport representative will then check the address listed for lodging. For returning Hawaii residents, the address should match their government issued ID. For visitors, the airport representative will call their hotel to confirm they have a reservation. Processing personnel have phone numbers for every hotel in the state. If the visitor is not staying at a hotel, the address they list will be checked on the county’s tax map key (TMK) to verify it is a legitimate residence. All information will also be provided to counties to check if the address is a vacation rental. This is a warning to all vacation rentals in the state to stop accepting visitor reservations. The government will have their address and they will be subject to enforcement for operating illegally. A list of suspected illegal short-term rental sites will be provided to the appropriate county. Once all the information is confirmed and the order is signed the person is allowed to leave. “I myself was one of the people verifying the
14 days.” Law enforcement officers are standing by to deal with anyone who refuses the process or becomes combative.
In addition, 20 HDOT Administration Division employees have been reassigned to conduct follow up calls to residents to verify they are abiding by the 14 day traveler quarantine order beginning today. Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) personnel will continue calling visitors during the traveler quarantine period. HDOT employees are also working with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to help with unemployment claims at the convention center. “HDOT and its employees are going above and beyond their normal duties and are working to help the community during this extraordinary time,” said Director Butay. Overall passenger arrivals to Hawaii are down more than 99 percent from this time last year. Currently there are very few incoming flights to Hawaii. The only remaining domestic flights to Honolulu are from San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles and Seattle. The only regularly scheduled international destination is Guam. There are minimal trans-Pacific flights arriving to neighbor islands. Right now, only Delta Airlines is flying from Los Angeles to Kahului, Kona and Lihue 3-4 times a week.
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Harbors Jon Hosaka Joins Harbor Division as Asst. Engineering Program Manager By: Derek Chow
Please welcome Jon Hosaka who will be serving as the Assistant Engineering Program Manager for Programs and Project Management for the Harbors Division. Jon’s primary duties will be to create a project development process in accordance with project management principles and methodologies. Jon has over 30 years of federal experience with project development and project management. Before retiring, he most recently supported the U.S. State Department with project development in the Philippines, and U.S. Dept of Interior with project development in the Freely Associated States.
development policies and procedures will help Harbors Division streamline its project execution. Jon has also provided mechanical design and quality assurance support during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome Jon to the Harbors Team!
His knowledge with preparing project
Getting to Know Harbors’ New ASO Rex Akutagawa Q: In your new role as ASO for the Harbors Division, what do you hope to achieve?
on the Division and assist in guiding others to better themselves. Q: Please tell us a little bit about your background.
Rex: To gain a good understanding of the objectives of management and be able to apply my experience and knowledge to make a positive impact
Rex: I worked for over 30-years in various industries including real estate, hospitality, legal, and nonprofit; my career path has provided me with a multitude of learning experiences spanning from accounting/ financial to HR, IT, property management and general operations.
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See ASO on page 11
Highways
Happy Bike Month! Highways Develop Bicycle Program By: Rachel Roper It’s time to dust off that bike because May is Bike Month. The United States has a long tradition of celebrating Bike Month in May since 1956. This year’s celebration will be quite different (e.g., many events postponed or cancelled) due to COVID-19, but let’s all take a moment to give bicycling a “woo hoo.” • The concept of the bicycle we are familiar with today likely originated in the 19th century. • According to the latest draft of the City and County of Honolulu’s Oahu Bike Plan, Honolulu ranks 12th among the largest U.S. cities for bicycle commuting It was also recognized in 2018 as a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. • The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and all counties in Hawaii have adopted Complete Streets policies. Complete Streets policies help ensure that transportation facilities are planned, designed,
operated, and maintained to provide safe access and mobility for all users-including bicyclists, pedestrians, A 19th century bicycle displa yed at the Forney Museu transit m of Transpor ta tion in Denver, CO. riders, freight, and motorists-and are appropriate to the function and context of the facility. • The Highways Division oversees the HDOT’s bicycle program. Bike Plan Hawaii is the HDOT’s bicycle master plan and helps assess bicycle related needs for the State Highway System. Information on the HDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program can be found at https:// hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/bike-and-pedestriangateway/.
ASO continued from page 10
Q: What are your interests? Rex: Keeping busy and feeling productive; finding solutions to problems; analysis, people, family, friends, and my dog.
Q: What is the most interesting thing that you have found after working for a short while at the Harbors Division? Rex: Certain processes can and should be automated to provide a better efficiency to the overall workflow. PAGE 11
Highways Research on Hawaii’s First GRS-IBS
By: Kurt Sanehira
Dr. Phillip Ooi, UH Professor of Civil and Geotechnical engineering and former research assistant, Arshia Taeb, conducted innovative and extensive research on Kauaula Stream bridge, a new 110-foot long geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS) in Lahaina, Maui.
is the likelihood of inducing cyclic-induced deformations of the GRS abutment. A numerical simulation of the bridge confirmed the magnitude of the field measured pressure fluctuations.
James Fu, HWY-DB section head is the project sponsor for this research project. This bridge was instrumented to measure superstructure strains and vertical pressures below the footing. Research and Findings
FHWA currently suggests limiting the span length of GRS-IBS to 140 ft because the longer the span, the more severe the thermal effects and hence GRS settlement will be. A second objective was to analyze the thermal effects on the bearing pressure fluctuation of a similar bridge twice as long. With modifications to the Kauaula Stream Bridge finite element model, the peak-to-trough cyclic bearing pressures of the 220-ft-long bridge remained within the backfill’s shakedown limit, the largest cyclic load at which the GRS backfill will stop settling continuously after the first few cycles.
When subjected to ambient daily temperature fluctuations, the GRS-IBS was observed to undergo cyclic straining of the superstructure. The upper and lower reaches of the superstructure experienced the highest and lowest strain fluctuation, respectively.
The results of this study showed that GRS abutments in Hawaii with similar temperature fluctuations are capable of supporting similar type GRS-IBS with a span longer than the 140 ft.
These non-uniform strains impose axial loading and bending of the superstructure, which in turn cause the vertical pressures beneath the footing to fluctuate cyclically. Measured vertical footing pressures closest to the stream were found to fluctuate significantly.
GRS-IBS in Hawaii has many advantages and benefits over traditional concrete abutment bridges as follows:
The larger the pressure fluctuation, the greater PAGE 12
See GRS-IBS page 13
Highways GRS-IBS continued from page 12
• Savings in time and construction cost. GRS abutments do not require formwork and waiting time for the concrete to set unlike traditional concrete abutments and the superstructure can be prefabricated beforehand leading to accelerated bridge construction. • Lower maintenance cost since no bridge bearings are required for maintenance. • A simple design concept that can be adapted to suit Hawaii’s environment. This design can be easily modified in the field to adjust to unexpected site conditions. • Quality control for compaction since backfill is placed in thin lifts between the closely spaced geosynthetics. • Smoother ride since there is no bump at the
end of the bridge. • Durability from earthquakes. • Environmentally friendly since less use of cement. Cement produces a lot of CO2 during its manufacturing process. There are four GRS-IBS that have been constructed in Hawaii. The Punakea Kai bridge and Punakea Uka bridge are on the Lahaina Bypass Road in Maui as well as the Kauaula Stream bridge. The fourth bridge is on the Saddle Road of the Big Island of Hawaii located on the Military Pohakaloa Training Area. Currently, all four GRS-IBS are performing well. In Hawaii, GRS-IBS bridges are considered as one of the most promising design options for new and replacement single span bridge construction.
HDOT Lends Monitors for Unemployment Call Center
Thanks to the efforts of Highways Division’s Robert Sequeira and Deputy Director Ed Sniffen, 235 monitors were delivered to the Hawaii Convention Center to help expedite the processing of unemployment claims. Robert and Ed also assisted with connectors necessary to connect old monitors and helped to install cat5 cabling for the call centers. In addition to Highways Division loaning 50 PCs, Highways, along with Airports and Administration Divisions, loaned 150 of the 235 monitors. “Honestly, Ed and I worked on the coordination part, but there were a bunch of people in Highways who stepped up and stayed late to bundle up their monitors and transport them to Punchbowl,” said Robert. PAGE 13
Highways
HDOT COVID-19 Update: ID Credentials, Safety Checks, Vehicle Registrations
In consideration of Governor Ige’s 6th supplementary emergency proclamation through May 31, 2020, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) provides the following updates on identification credentials, Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspections (PMVI or Safety Checks), and motor vehicle registrations. Identification Credentials (Driver’s Licenses, State Identification Cards)
• Driver’s licenses, instruction permits, and State Identification cards that expire between March 16 and May 31, 2020, are granted a 90day waiver. All State-issued credentials expiring during this date range will be considered valid for an additional 90-days from the end of Governor Ige’s 6th supplementary emergency proclamation on May 31, 2020. This extension is to provide enough time for the public to obtain or renew credentials once face-to-face government services are reopened. • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders with a CDL that expired between March 16, 2020 thru May 31, 2020, are allowed an extension of up to 90-days but the 90 days cannot go past June 30, 2020. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has set June 30, 2020, as the last date that an extension may be granted. Please review HDOT’s frequently asked questions section at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/faq/ covid-19-cdl-faqs/ • As previously announced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), expired driver’s licenses or State IDs that expired on or after March 1 can be used at TSA checkpoints. HDOT has also sent memorandum to the county police
departments informing them of the previous expiration extension and will update this memo to minimize potential misunderstandings.
Safety Checks (PMVI) In consideration of Governor Ige allowing the reopening of low risk businesses that take necessary precautions, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is coordinating the reopening of stations for Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspections (PMVI or Safety Checks) starting Friday, May 15. The safety check waiver announced on April 30 will not be changed to allow PMVI stations, Counties, and the public enough time to conduct and process safety checks. The waiver announced previously was: Safety check certificates and stickers expiring on or before May 31, 2020, will remain valid until August 31, 2020. All other safety checks that expire in 2020 will be valid for an additional 3 months after the 2020 expiration date.
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See COVID on page 15
Highways
COVID continued from page 14
The safety check extension does not impact the validity of the motor vehicle registration. The motor vehicle registration must still be unexpired to be valid. County motor vehicle registration offices are accepting renewals through a variety of methods, including mail, kiosk (where available), and online. The County of Kaua‘i has announced the reopening of its Department of Motor Vehicles by appointment beginning May 18.
COVID-19 at work should be dismissed as soon as possible to self-isolate at home or seek medical attention as appropriate • Anyone visibly displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed in the facility Motor Vehicle Registrations Motor vehicle registrations are still being conducted by the Counties, see below for information by County: City and County of Honolulu – Offers renewals by mail, by DMV NOW kiosks, and online.
PMVI stations are required to follow the guidelines outlined below:
County of Maui – Offers renewals by mail and online.
• Open with health and safety precautions for employees and customers, including physical distancing of 6-feet or greater, enhanced sanitation measures and appropriate PPE • Facilities should frequently conduct thorough and detailed cleaning and disinfecting with focus on high-touch areas (e.g., door handles) • Customers should be accepted by appointment only • PMVI stations should limit the number of employees in the facility at one time to allow for safe physical distancing practices • Train all employees on the importance of frequent handwashing with soap and water, the use of hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content, and give them clear instruction to avoid touching hands to face • Employees should be given frequent opportunities to wash their hands • Employees who develop symptoms of
County of Hawaii – Offers renewals by mail, kiosks, and online. County of Kauai – Offers renewals by mail and online. • Motor vehicle registration fees and any applicable penalty fees for late registration have not changed. These funds are necessary to meet the local share of upcoming stimulus projects for road construction and maintenance. • Drivers with expired registration tags may be ticketed by law enforcement. HDOT thanks the public and the Counties for their continued efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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COVID-19: Get the Help If You Need It the WHO and the CDC.
By: Melanie Martin
Other news sources may be less accurate, and they may cause feelings of panic and concern. • Talk it out: Acknowledge any stress or anxiety you’re feeling right now, and ask others how they’re coping. Talk to family and friends, and make sure you check in with how your kids are feeling. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has turned all of our lives upside down and living in the “new normal” has many of us anxious and stressed out.
• Reach out to coworkers: Now is the time for co-workers to come together. Focus on maintaining positive morale at work and if you’re working remotely, set regular meetings.
In the April 2020 edition of Hawaii Employee, WorkLife Hawaii provided helpful tips to combat stress and to stay calm.
To speak to a counselor for free, contact WorkLife Hawaii Oahu: (808) 543-8445; Neighbor Islands (800) 9943571.
It is worth repeating here. • Practice self-care: Focus on what you can control.
The Stay-at-Home order is especially hard, and potentially dangerous, for victims of domestic violence.
Get more sleep, read a new book, have a warm bath, or take a walk somewhere quiet— whatever you do, now is the time to prioritize your well-being.
For more information, and to get help, contact the Domestic Violence Action Center.
• Limit social media use: Set limits on how often you use social media, especially if you’re at home where it’s tempting to check in more often.
If you’re unable to speak safely, you can text (605) 956-5680 to chat with a helpline specialist Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm.
Don’t let a constant stream of tweets, status updates and conflicting opinions overwhelm you. • Read only reliable news sources: Stay informed by reading only reliable sources, such as government websites,
If you’d prefer to speak to someone over the phone, call (808) 531-3771 or toll free at (800) 690-6200 to speak to someone during these hours. Hawaii Department of Human Services, Social Services https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/ssd/ domestic-violence-resources/
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Security Tips for Teleworking By: Darren Cantrill • Don’t let anyone else but you use your laptop (example: your children to search for something on the internet). • If you regularly work with sensitive information; use a privacy shield on your screen or redirect your monitor away from your family. • Finally, always remember to wear pants when video conferencing! No matter where you work, remember to follow these best practices and if you need any help or assistance, please email us at HDOT-ITSupport@ Hawaii.gov.
COVID-19 has changed the way we work and meet and while many are now working from home, teleworking can create new risks like unauthorized access, data breaches, unethical conduct, fraud in overtime and regular hours, asset theft, etc. The CSS department would like you to consider the following:
Stay safe, everyone! Now more than ever.
• Even at home, when you leave your laptop alone: lock the screen. • Find a quiet and comfortable place to work and make sure that nobody is shoulder-surfing.
May Day is Lei Dei in Hawaii
By: Rachel Roper
Leis entered in the City and County of Honolulu’s 2019 Lei Day contest. The 2019 theme was Lei Kahakai seashore lei.
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Prepare for Hurricane Season Starting June 1st
By: Laurent Kergall
Hurricane season is just around the corner. Hurricane season in Hawaii starts June 1. This is a good opportunity to review our preparedness and readiness for any disaster.
* Do you have a family communication plan?
Disasters can happen at any time with sometimes little or no warning so being well prepared is essential.
* Are you familiar with the emergency plans for your children’s school, spouses’ workplace?
Whether at work or at home, it is essential to be prepared. This could be a good opportunity to review your station readiness plans and speak readiness with your teams. Good questions to ask to measure readiness at home:
* Do you have an emergency supply kit for at least 14 days?
* Do you know the evacuations routes and shelters near your home? * In an emergency, should you stay or leave the area? Take care, be prepared, and be safe!
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Winners of the HDOT Face Masks Contest Announced By: Melanie Martin
MOST CREAT IV
Angela Lun
dgren from
E HWY-V
MOST HUMOROUS Kathy Yoda from HWY-O
SPECIAL TEAM AWARD HWY-D PAGE 19
MOST BEAUTIFUL Michelle Freitas IVISION from HARBORS D
Honorable Mentions...
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$5 each or 5 for $20
NOT SOLD IN STORES BUY NOW! LIMITED QUANTITIES ORDER ARRIVED APRIL 28, 2020 CASH OR CHECKS (written out to DOT Ho‘olaule‘a) AIR - Cheryl Cantere 836-6462 or Nimfa Turla 836-6681 ADM & HWY Karen Awana 831-7913 | HAR - Chris Murphy 587-1922
MAY 2020
CISA INSIGHTS
COVID-19 Disinformation Activity False and misleading information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are a significant challenge. This CISA Insight provides an overview of coronavirus disinformation and steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of sharing inaccurate information with your friends and family.
COVID-19 DISINFORMATION After the initial outbreak of COVID-19, disinformation campaigns appeared online. Information manipulation and fabrication about COVID-19’s origin, scale, government response, and/or prevention and treatment surged as creators leveraged people’s increased uncertainty.
Virus Origin China and other authoritarian governments have promoted false claims about the origins of the virus in an attempt to shift blame overseas and divide free societies against themselves. Common tactics they use include censoring news, injecting false narratives onto social media platforms, and promoting slick government-produced videos.
Virus Scale Chinese state-backed media continue to promote content emphasizing China’s claimed success rapidly controlling the virus, while suggesting the U.S. and other Western countries have failed in their response. These narratives are amplified on a variety of social media platforms.
5G and COVID Disinformation campaigns have promoted false narratives that 5G technology suppresses immune systems and that 5G spectrum bands spread the virus.
Government Response to COVID-19 Disinformation involving the government’s response to COVID-19 has been circulated to cause confusion among Americans, including false claims the National Guard Bureau would be supporting nationwide quarantines.
Contact Information:
Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 False information about COVID-19 treatments continue to circulate on social media, including potentially extremely harmful suggestions to drink bleach or chlorine dioxide, to use vitamin C or boiled garlic, or that illicit drug activity can “cure” the virus.
PROTECT YOURSELF There are simple steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of amplifying disinformation. 1. Go to trusted sources of information like www. Coronavirus.gov. FEMA has also established a coronavirus rumor control website at www.FEMA.gov/ coronavirus/rumor-control where you can learn more about specific disinformation campaigns. 2. Check the source of the information. 3. Search for other reliable sources of information on the issue. 4. Think before you link – take a moment to let your emotions cool down before sharing anything online.
CISA’S ROLE AS THE NATION’S RISK ADVISOR CISA collaborates with industry and government partners to help organizations understand and counter critical infrastructure and cybersecurity risks associated with the malicious activities of nation-state and non-state actors. CISA provides recommendations to help partners stay vigilant and protected against potential foreign influence operations.
CISA.gov has more information about COVID-19, as well as information on identifying and combatting disinformation. We ask that anyone with any relevant information, or indication of a compromise, contact us immediately.
BE PREPARED FOR A
HURRICANE Threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides.
FEMA V-1006/ May 2018
Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. The Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30.
SEPT Can happen along any U.S. coast or territory in the Atlantic or Pacific
Can affect areas more than 100 miles inland
Most active in September
IF YOU ARE UNDER A HURRICANE WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY Evacuate if told to do so.
Determine your best protection for high winds and flooding.
Listen for emergency information and alerts.
1
Take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room for high winds.
Only use generators outdoors and away from windows.
Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
WHEN A HURRICANE THREATENS Prepare NOW
Know your area’s risk of hurricanes. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for signs such as heavy rain. Practice going to a safe shelter for high winds, such as a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not subject to flooding. Based on your location and community plans, make your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place. Become familiar with your evacuation zone, the evacuation route, and shelter locations.
Survive DURING
If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not drive around barricades.
Listen to authorities for information and special instructions.
If sheltering during high winds, go to a FEMA safe room, ICC 500 storm shelter, or a small, interior, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor.
Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water. Listen for current emergency information and instructions. Use a generator or other gasolinepowered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown.® Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock. Avoid wading in flood water, which can contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water. Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends. Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.
Take an Active Role in Your Safety
Keep important documents in a safe place or create password-protected digital copies. Protect your property. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. Consider hurricane shutters. Review insurance policies.
Be Safe AFTER
FEMA V-1006 Catalog No. 17233-7
Go to ready.gov and search for hurricane. Download the FEMA app to get more information about preparing for a hurricane.
