Latest / The One Oʻahu Podcast with Mayor Rick Blangiardi / HPD Major Clifford Ramson on Kona Low storm preps and recovery

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HPD Major Clifford Ramson on Kona Low storm preps and recovery · The One Oʻahu Podcast with Mayor Rick Blangiardi

• 0:15
  welcome to The One Oahu podcast.
• 0:17
  I'm your host, Brandi Higa, and this week
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  we're joined by Major Clifford Ramson of the Honolulu Police Department.
• 0:22
  Major, thanks for making some time for me. Yeah. Thank you.
• 0:25
  I know that this has been a busy few weeks for you.
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  We know you're a major
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  in the police department, but can you tell us what your role is
• 0:32
  and the room that we are currently sitting in here at headquarters.
• 0:35
  Okay, so, I am the commander of what's called
• 0:38
  the Major Events Division of the whole police department.
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  And in a nutshell,
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  we are the emergency management and Homeland security branch of HPD.
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  So most departments don't have the luxury of having a dedicated emergency branch.
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  And we do.
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  And our primary purpose is to handle large scale events,
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  both planned or unplanned and emergencies, and provide
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  command and
• 1:00
  control and logistical support to do those kinds of events.
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  Here, right now, we're inside the Department
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  Operations Center, which is, located in, in police headquarters.
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  And this is pretty much the hub of police decision making.
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  This is where we we run and support all large scale, events islandwide.
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  And so for you, with this role, what is the last
• 1:21
  few weeks been for you as we face that first little system till today?
• 1:25
  Yeah.
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  It's been, it's been interesting to say the least.
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  I would say it was it was pretty much nonstop for the last.
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  I'd say maybe the last three weeks, even even beyond
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  going into the some of the earlier weather events leading up to this.
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  Normally, we'll spool up for,
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  for weather events and armies, you know, a large scale planned events.
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  Something like this.
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  Really tested our capabilities because it was an ongoing event involving
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  what we call multiple operational periods, meaning it went on for days and days.
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  And in a sense, even weeks in the recovery period that we were involved in. So.
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  So it really, it was a good thing for our folks because most of the officers
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  in Major Events Division, they really dedicated to the mission,
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  which is basically emergency management.
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  So a different kind of police work.
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  So, so, for certain, we, we,
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  we had a chance to really give back to the community
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  because not only were we part of the response,
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  but we were also part of the recovery effort in Holly even while away as well.
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  So it was an excellent opportunity for our officers, our men and women,
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  and so coming off of those last two storm systems,
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  as of this recording Wednesday, April 8th.
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  What is your message to the public
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  as we prepare for more bad weather moving into Thursday?
• 2:36
  Well, yeah, there's a there's a lot of uncertainty coming our way.
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  So we know this much, right?
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  There's a there's
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  there's a lot of bad weather, inclement weather potentially coming.
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  So right off the bat, the best way to avoid getting into trouble
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  is if you can help it avoid being out on the roads if you can.
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  If you do have to drive, obviously you're going to have to, exercise safety,
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  the weather conditions, you know, you don't want to be speeding,
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  in that kind of weather.
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  But also, if you can avoid standing through large standing
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  puddles of water and things like that, that may get you stalled.
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  Definitely.
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  If, you're going through areas that are, that are flooding,
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  or have large puddles of water, you definitely want to avoid that.
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  That that would be a worst case scenario is getting stalled in, in flooding.
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  But also, if you can,
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  if you can avoid just adding to the congestion and,
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  and the issues coming around this, it's best
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  to try and sit out the storm as best you can.
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  The other important thing is you really the public really is the
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  the eyes and ears of, of, our first responder agencies.
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  So if the public observes, conditions that that warrant reporting,
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  like flooding, for instance, rising water levels in your backyard,
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  if you see things, bridges that are starting to overflow,
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  by all means, you'll want to report that and, and give, give precise information.
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  So, so we can respond accordingly.
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  But at the same time,
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  we also want to preserve the 911 lines for, for important calls for service.
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  So unless it is directly related to safety and
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  and the storm, if it's things that can wait
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  or if I think if it's things
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  that can be handled more routinely later on, I would suggest not,
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  calling in
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  non-essential calls or non priority calls, if that can be helped.
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  Yeah.
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  As of this recording we also do have a handful of emergency shelters open.
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  I know you were out there in the community.
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  We saw you out in Wildwood.
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  What kind of frequently asked questions are you getting regarding shelters?
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  Where can I go? How can I keep my family, my ohana, safe?
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  Yeah, I think, I know right now there are four shelters
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  that have been opened up and possibly more based on the need.
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  So, the big thing we're providing is 24 hour security at the shelters.
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  So I think the thing with the shelters is, is that folks got to understand when you
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  when you go to these shelters, you gotta kind of have resources already on hand.
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  It's good to have a go bag with all the essentials that you need.
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  Medication, maybe even food and snacks, bedding,
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  all the things that you need to get by for a day or two, or maybe even longer.
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  If you're if you're,
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  you know, inside of a shelter, kind of like camping,
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  I would say just having all the essentials you need, safety wise.
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  Like I said, we have 24 hour security protection between, Honolulu
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  PD and our partners at the, Hawaii State Department of Law Enforcement.
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  We've got sheriffs
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  deputies and policemen staffing all of the shelters that are open.
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  And it's 24 hour protection.
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  So we always have two officers,
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  at every moment inside the shelters, providing that, that level of protection.
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  As we talk about you mentioned cleanup and recovery efforts out in Waialua.
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  We'll talk at Camp Wahiawa.
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  What stood out to you?
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  Because you're not just these aren't just clients.
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  You're also, a resident of the area.
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  What stood out to you as cleanup and recovery efforts were underway?
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  I think the biggest thing it was just, you know, actually seeing the
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  the scale and the scope of the damage that was sustained,
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  you know, by the community.
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  It's it's it's one thing to see it on cameras or
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  when you're up here in the operations center and you're seeing drone feed
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  or you're watching video feed, but to actually get out there
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  and see the level of damage that houses sustained, I mean, literally,
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  there may still very well be people living in houses that that had,
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  you know, a couple of feet of mud inside their homes.
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  And of course, there are houses
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  that were completely destroyed, and people had to be rescued.
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  So, road roadways blocked with mud and debris.
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  I mean, just the scale of, of, destruction that was brought up on that community
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  was was a very much an eye opener.
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  And and the fact that these are members of our community,
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  I can tell you that we also had members of the whole police department
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  that lived in those areas.
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  And,
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  I know that we've we actually had officers that had to be relocated to shelters.
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  So, so yeah, it's it's very it very much hits home.
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  And I know for the officers and on our other partners,
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  the, the firemen and guardsmen that, that are assisting us in these efforts,
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  it it's really, an opportunity
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  to do that's why you come in a job to do things like that.
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  Right? To give back to the community.
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  Most folks come on board because they want to.
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  They want to do something different.
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  They want to make a difference to the community.
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  And I think,
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  I think for the officers involved, you could see the emotion in their faces.
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  This wasn't just a routine, job to them.
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  They were going out and giving it their all every day
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  because it's really all they could do, right
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  to try to normalize in some semblance these people's lives.
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  So yeah, it was, it was, it was a very, experience I'll not forget.
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  a major for you. How long have you been with the department?
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  I've been in police department for 32 years, and I've.
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  I've. I've been around long enough.
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  I've seen a lot of things come and go.
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  Not to mention, I'm from Hawaii.
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  I grew up on Kaua'i, so I experienced two hurricanes
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  as a as a teenager or as a child and, as a young adult.
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  And, and those are very devastating.
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  But I have to say, seeing this here on this island, this is the biggest event
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  I've seen since I've lived in Oahu.
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  And definitely since I've been a member of the whole police department.
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  In talking to community
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  members who are doing incredible work, you know,
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  Levi, Brandon Wolf, rainbow, even Joey Cadiz.
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  What are some of your takeaways
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  from from seeing those leaders, community leaders in action?
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  You know, the the big thing I see there is, resiliency.
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  And really that's that's that's that's key right now.
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  in, you know, in the what I call the golden hours after an event,
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  it's really the community
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  that pulls together and are able to provide, that kind of,
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  you know, that kind of resiliency and assistance to their neighbors
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  because government always takes a little while.
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  I mean, I hate to say it, but but,
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  but it takes time for resources to spool up for, for government
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  to, to come into the neighborhoods and, and, in assisting and all.
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  And of course, we're always striving to do better and be quick read what we do.
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  The ability to be able to help your neighbors
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  and to rely on each other, in times of need.
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  I was so impressed just seeing, how the, the neighbors or the,
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  the community was able to, to spin up their resources
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  and just, just get to work,
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  saving lives and helping each other, I mean, is unbelievable.
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  The courage that was shown and the dedication to each other.
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  And you know that after this,
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  the community is going to be even stronger.
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  I mean, how can you not be after something like this?
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  And although as, you know, as, as a, as government, we always have an
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  obligation to improve our abilities and, and, and respond quicker with more,
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  but just seeing that I think is a is, is motivation and inspiration.
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  I think, not only for myself, but I would think for the community at large.
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  I would like to see more communities, have that mindset and, and, take action
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  as quick as they did.
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  That was that was awesome. I was really impressed.
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  Yeah.
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  And so, major, what's been the hardest part for you when it comes to messaging
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  and you know, carrying out the job you have to do here
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  before, during and after these events.
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  Well, you know,
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  we do a lot of events at ND we, we were like
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  I said, we're the emergency management branch of the whole police department.
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  So we've been involved in everything, since the, the recent
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  tsunami scare that we had, wildfires and all kinds of stuff.
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  So, you know, as we, as we ramp up as, as we put it, as we, we,
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  we ramp up to these events, meaning, we, we bring in resources and, we,
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  we build up to where, where we're, knee deep in the event, you know, there's
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  a lot of preparation that goes into that bringing in resources and whatnot.
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  And at the end of the day, when it's all said
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  and done, you know, we're able we're able to kind of kind of reassess
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  where we are and, and even have a chance to kind of
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  get together and, do what we call an after action.
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  We're always reviewing what we did, where we are
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  and where we're going and how we can do it better.
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  And and that's really, the big thing is we're constantly reassessing
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  and constantly seeing how we can improve, our services,
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  how we can adapt, to the situations that are coming our way.
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  And this event was a big event.
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  So there's no doubt there's going to be lasting changes, to the way
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  we do business.
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  I'd imagine maybe even the city, going forward, all the other city agencies.
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  So, yeah, this is a big event.
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  Yeah.
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  And like I said, we're expecting more rain this week into the weekend.
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  And then after that we'll go into recovery mode again,
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  which you have a huge role in.
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  For those that maybe weren't sure what a community assistance center was,
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  what kind of resources are there?
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  And, you know, just the vibe.
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  I know some people might be afraid to, you know, seek help from government.
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  What is your message to them
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  as we try to bounce back from this one into another recovery mode?
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  So, the community assistance, centers was
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  I think, the best way I would put it, it's it's basically a one stop shop
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  for all the government services that, can be brought to bear
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  to assist the community, facing need, like what happened in Wailua.
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  So, and it's more than that, really.
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  It's not just city, resources and state resources and federal resources,
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  but also a lot of non-profits were brought in.
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  So, it started you started relatively simple and within,
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  I think within 24 hours or even 48 hours, it really grew into, a comprehensive,
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  system of of agencies that are able to assist the public for the PD side.
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  We our big purpose was to make sure that people were able to get there safely.
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  We could facilitate the flow of traffic, parking and all that and more.
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  So just to create, the conditions so that people feel safe.
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  So we made sure that we, you know, we had, a pretty robust, visible presence
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  at the, community outreach centers and or assistance centers and,
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  just be able to people can get what they need in a timely manner and,
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  and get the services they, they require from the government.
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  So, yeah, these are these are really great resources.
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  And there shouldn't be any hesitancy, from anybody to reach out,
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  you know, everybody has as needs and, and that's why these centers are
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  there is to, to assist families and people in need.
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  Major, thank you so much.
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  So much for your time. Is there anything that we missed?
• 12:32
  Oh, no, that's
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  I guess at the end of the day, we'll see what happens in, in the next few days.
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  And, and I'm sure, and I'm sure we'll pull through and we'll be full,
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  you know, we'll be stronger for it as a community.
• 12:43
  Thank you so much for your time. Thank you.
• 12:45
  And don't forget the latest storm relief and recovery
• 12:48
  information is available at any time at one oahu.org.
• 12:51
  Next week
• 12:52
  we'll be back with Mayor Rick Blangiardi right here on the One Oahu Podcast.
• 12:55
  Mahalo for listening. Stay safe.
• 12:57
  And until next time. Aloha.