HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	159
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, COUNTY OF MAUI, COUNTY OF HAWAII, AND COUNTY OF KAUAI TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF HURRICANE REFUGES AND SHELTERS ELECTRONICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

 

 

 

     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 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 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:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Emergency Management; Hurricane Shelters; Publicly Available Information