Hawaiian Electric prepares for COVID-19

by Michael Choe | March 2, 2020

As one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by the Department of Homeland Security, customers need power and Hawaiian Electric is committed to providing it. That’s why we’re finalizing our Infectious Disease & Pandemic Plan, which we are prepared to activate if needed. Safety is always our priority.

There are several actions we’re taking to protect our employees and keep the lights on if COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) impacts Hawaii:

• We have a working group that is if finalizing emergency plans for disease outbreak situations. The team has also been sending us reminders about proper hygiene to avoid the spread of germs.
• Business travel restrictions are now in place for our employees. Any business trips to Asia, Italy and Iran have been canceled or postponed.
• Representatives from our company helped staff the Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency joint information center at the state Department of Health (DOH) where they monitored social media for inaccurate information or false rumors, among other duties.

The Hawaii State DOH plans to host a social media livestream every week with a health or government official to update residents on the status of the outbreak. The first livestream was held on Feb. 27 with Gov. David Ige, DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division Chief and State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park, and DOH Deputy Director of Health Resources Danette Tomiyasu. The weekly livestreams can be viewed at www.facebook.com/HawaiiDOH.

The public must also be aware of scammers who are using the COVID-19 situation to develop new ways to obtain personal and financial information. We all need to be vigilant and never trust information or accept requests coming from an unknown source.

Scammers have been:

• Selling and falsely advertising inefficient or fake products (masks, treatments, etc.)
• Sending phishing emails, texts, and social media posts
• Requesting donations to help fictitious organizations
• Promising critical information about cases in the community in exchange for personal/financial information

Don’t panic or become a victim. It’s important to remain calm, but at the same time be prepared for emergencies of any kind.

Learn to discern fact from rumor and stay informed with credible sources that provide timely updates such as the Hawaii State Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization. You may also want to reconsider any non-essential travel to regions affected by COVID-19. Visit www.travel.state.gov/destination and the CDC’s Travel Health Notices page for the latest travel alerts and information.

Michael Choe is a digital communications and social media specialist at Hawaiian Electric Company.