| 43 | | - | WHEREAS, the intensity and severity of extreme weather events is increasing globally, with the Hawaiian island chain facing growing threats of major storm system impacts; and WHEREAS, despite Hawaii's rising risk of experiencing extreme weather events, electronically accessible information is severely lacking as it relates to locations where the public can seek refuge at a moment's notice and continued shelter in the time following a disruptive weather event; and WHEREAS, as few public buildings meet minimum requirements to qualify as hurricane refuges and shelters, there are limited options in each county for the public to evacuate, while demand is likely to exceed available inventory; and WHEREAS, at present no county offers a comprehensive electronically accessible list on a government-run website that provides crucial information such as the category of hurricane the facility is able to sustain, capacity limits, accommodations for access and functional needs individuals, or the ability to shelter pets; and WHEREAS, to ensure information is both up-to-date for government entities maintaining refuges and shelters and for members of the public who may need to access this information, it is critical to take a more focused approach towards aggregating and making data available; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai are urged to inventory all designated emergency refuges and shelters and document their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or higher; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai are urged to publish an electronic list accessible to the public on a government-run website to include the following criteria, at minimum: (1) Location of a possible shelter or refuge area including the name of the facility, address, and relevant site-specific instructions; (2) Category of hurricane the shelter or refuge area is able to sustain; (3) Capacity limit; (4) Pet-friendliness designation; and (5) Access and functional needs accommodation designation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these electronic lists published by the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai, include disclaimers that these refuges and shelters may not necessarily be open during a particular emergency as the designating of emergency refuges and shelters will be determined and announced at the time such an emergency is declared; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED each county is urged to collaborate with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to publish a statewide list of shelters and refuge areas and their respective hurricane ratings; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Director of the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management; Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency; Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency; and Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency. |
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| 45 | + | WHEREAS, the intensity and severity of extreme weather events is increasing globally, with the Hawaiian island chain facing growing threats of major storm system impacts; and WHEREAS, despite Hawaii's rising risk of experiencing extreme weather events, electronically accessible information is severely lacking as it relates to locations where the public can seek refuge at a moment's notice and continued shelter in the time following a disruptive weather event; and WHEREAS, as few public buildings meet minimum requirements to qualify as hurricane refuges and shelters, there are limited options in each county for the public to evacuate, while demand is likely to exceed available inventory; and WHEREAS, at present no county offers a comprehensive electronically accessible list on a government-run website that provides crucial information such as the category of hurricane the facility is able to sustain, capacity limits, accommodations for special needs individuals, or the ability to shelter pets; and WHEREAS, to ensure information is both up-to-date for government entities maintaining refuges and shelters and for members of the public who may need to access this information, it is critical to take a more focused approach towards aggregating and making data available; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai are urged to inventory all designated emergency refuges and shelters and document their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or higher; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai are urged to publish an electronic list accessible to the public on a government-run website to include the following criteria, at minimum: (1) Location of a possible shelter or refuge area including the name of the facility, address, and relevant site-specific instructions; (2) Category of hurricane the shelter or refuge area is able to sustain; (3) Capacity limit; (4) Pet-friendliness designation; and (5) Special needs accommodation designation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED each county is urged to collaborate with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to publish a statewide list of shelters and refuge areas and their respective hurricane ratings; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Director of the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management; Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency; Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency; and Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency. . OFFERED BY: _____________________________ |
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