THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	43
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

encouraging the Hawaii department of defense and hawaii state civil defense to promote emergency preparedness through Multi-hazard mitigation plans and interoperability plans.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has experienced a range of climate and hydrological hazards, seismic and geological hazards, and technological hazards that have resulted in great costs to lives, property, and the economy of the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and ash, wildfires, flooding, and drought all have serious implications for individual safety, health, livelihoods, and the state economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards; and

 

     WHEREAS, hazard mitigation requires identifying risks and vulnerabilities associated with emergencies, and developing long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future hazard events; and

 

     WHEREAS, hazard mitigation plans offer a strategy for breaking the cycle of natural disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage, and a framework for developing feasible and cost-effective mitigation projects; and

 

     WHEREAS, history shows that the physical, financial, and emotional losses caused by disasters can be reduced significantly through hazard mitigation planning; and

 

     WHEREAS, successful emergency response plans require interoperability; and

 

     WHEREAS, interoperability is the ability of emergency management and response personnel and their affiliated organizations to communicate within and across disciplines and jurisdictions via voice, data, or video to exchange information with one another on demand and in real time, when needed; and

 

     WHEREAS, efficient emergency management and incident response operations require the continuous flow of critical information among jurisdictions, disciplines, organizations, and agencies; and

 

     WHEREAS, the lack of interoperability leads to unnecessary loss of lives, property, and environmental stability; and

 

     WHEREAS, interoperability plans should include considerations of governance, standard operating procedures, technology, training and exercises, and usage within the context of the stress and chaos of a major response effort; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State demonstrated its commitment to reducing the loss of life and minimizing property damage during disasters by adopting the 2010 State of Hawaii Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which establishes criteria for developing local hazard mitigation plans for the State and each county; and

 

     WHEREAS, some state institutions such as the University of Hawaii have already implemented multi-hazard mitigation plans; and

 

     WHEREAS, high rise management associations should effectuate emergency preparedness plans because of the high volume of residents in such buildings; and

 

     WHEREAS, schools should be highly prepared for emergencies to protect Hawaii's students; and

 

     WHEREAS, hospitals should have strong emergency preparedness to ensure the safety and health of patients; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is important for assisted care facilities, nursing homes, and all facilities that provide care for elderly or disabled individuals to adequately prepare for emergencies due to the vulnerable individuals that they house; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that the Hawaii Department of Defense and Hawaii State Civil Defense are encouraged to promote emergency preparedness through multi-hazard mitigation plans and interoperability plans; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Department of Defense and Hawaii State Civil Defense are encouraged to ensure that all high rise management associations, schools, hospitals, assisted care facilities, nursing homes, and other facilities that provide care for elderly or disabled individuals have multi-hazard mitigation and interoperability plans in place; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Adjutant General.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Emergency Preparedness; Interoperability Plan; Hazard Mitigation Plan