Hawaii Senate Bill SR79

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/11/25

Caption

Urging The County Of Maui And The Maui Emergency Management Agency, In Conjunction With The Department Of Transportation And The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, To Develop And Implement An Evacuation Route Signage Program For The County Of Maui.

Impact

The resolution recognizes successful evacuation route programs in other states and cities, notably Florida and Los Angeles, highlighting their use of standardized signage and digital integrations. SR79 advocates for a similar approach in Maui, asserting that well-marked evacuation routes can significantly reduce confusion, save lives, and enhance emergency response efficiency. By prompting state agencies to adopt best practices from these models, the resolution aims to mitigate the chaos often experienced during evacuations and ensure that emergency responders can operate effectively.

Summary

Senate Resolution 79 (SR79) urges the County of Maui and the Maui Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, to develop and implement a comprehensive evacuation route signage program. This initiative is prompted by Maui's vulnerability to various natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, tsunamis, and flooding, which necessitate effective evacuation strategies to protect residents and visitors during emergencies. The resolution identifies recent events, such as the devastating 2023 wildfires, as a stark reminder of the critical need for improved evacuation communication and clear signage.

Contention

While SR79 calls for a collaborative strategy to enhance emergency preparedness, it also raises questions about the allocation of resources and ongoing funding for such a program. Critics may express concern about the program's long-term sustainability and its implementation in a timely manner. Additionally, the resolution’s requirement for public education campaigns to spread awareness about designated evacuation routes may encounter challenges related to outreach effectiveness, especially in multilingual contexts, considering the diverse population of Maui.