Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said significant damage is expected along Hawaii coastlines from anticipated tsunami waves, and implored people to evacuate tsunami danger zones.
Waves are expected to begin hitting Hawaii islands by 7:10 p.m. local time (10:10 p.m. PST).
鈥淲e should be safe, and therefore not sorry,鈥� Green said at news conference that began at about 5:15 p.m. inside the joint information center at Hawaii Emergency Management Agency headquarters inside Diamond Head crater.
Green said that, based on ocean activity readings in coastal waters closer to Russia, tsunami waves are imminent for Hawaii, but that the expected size of the waves won鈥檛 be known until wave activity passes Midway at about 5:30 p.m. Hawaii time.
Green is meeting with emergency officials to gather more information from those readings.
鈥淕od willing, these waves will not hurt us,鈥� Green said. 鈥淏ut you have to assume, assume, they will be life threatening.鈥�
City officials are urging residents across Oahu to take urgent precautions and evacuate to higher ground as a tsunami threat looms over the islands this evening.
In a separate news conference, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon Hao, and Transportation Services Director Roger Morton emphasized the seriousness of the situation and asked the public to remain calm and act quickly.
The Hilo International Airport is currently the only airport that has been closed.
Two more emergency alert sirens are scheduled to sound across the state. One at 6:10 p.m. an hour before anticipated landfall of tsunami waves, and one at 6:40 p.m. 30 minutes out.
Green said people who are in tsunami inundation zones can shelter in place as long as they are on the fourth or higher floor in buildings, and reiterated that people need to stay away from shoreline areas and other places likely to be inundated by dangerous waves.
鈥淵ou must stay off the beaches and away from harbors, rivers and low-lying areas,鈥� Green said. 鈥淚f you stay on beaches you could risk death.鈥�
Hawaii Adjutant General Major General Stephen Logan, who leads the state Department of Defense, said large National Guard cargo helicopters are available on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui to respond to the situation as it unfolds, and that troops and soldiers have been activated to operate heavy ground equipment that may be needed to assist with debris removal and evacuation of people if necessary.
鈥淭he rest of the National Guard is ready to respond and assist us if necessary,鈥� he said.
