HR 142: REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS EMERGENCY SHELTERS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S HURRICANE SHELTER CAPACITY.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS EMERGENCY SHELTERS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S HURRICANE SHELTER CAPACITY.

     WHEREAS, the State is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms that threaten the safety and well-being of residents and visitors; and

     WHEREAS, climate change and warming ocean temperatures may increase the intensity of storms affecting the Hawaiian Islands; and

     WHEREAS, emergency shelters in Hawaii are located in facilities such as schools, community centers, and other public buildings that may not have been designed to withstand hurricane-force winds; and

     WHEREAS, identifying which shelters are structurally capable of protecting residents during hurricanes will improve disaster preparedness and public awareness; and

     WHEREAS, a publicly available inventory of shelters and their storm-resilience capabilities will help residents make informed decisions during emergency evacuations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is requested to identify and assess emergency shelters capable of withstanding hurricane conditions and to develop a plan to improve the State's hurricane shelter capacity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is requested to:

     (1)  Identify all emergency shelters in the State that are designated for use during disasters;

     (2)  Assess the structural capability of each shelter to withstand hurricane conditions, including whether the shelter can safely withstand at least Category 1 hurricane-force winds;

     (3)  Compile and publish a list of shelters, including their locations and hurricane resilience capability, to be made available to the public; and

     (4)  Develop recommendations for improving hurricane shelter capacity in the State, including potential retrofits or upgrades to existing shelters; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Report Title: 

HIEMA; Hurricane Shelters; Emergency Preparedness; Report

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS EMERGENCY SHELTERS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S HURRICANE SHELTER CAPACITY.

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms that threaten the safety and well-being of residents and visitors; and

     WHEREAS, climate change and warming ocean temperatures may increase the intensity of storms affecting the Hawaiian Islands; and

     WHEREAS, emergency shelters in Hawaii are located in facilities such as schools, community centers, and other public buildings that may not have been designed to withstand hurricane-force winds; and

     WHEREAS, identifying which shelters are structurally capable of protecting residents during hurricanes will improve disaster preparedness and public awareness; and

     WHEREAS, a publicly available inventory of shelters and their storm-resilience capabilities will help residents make informed decisions during emergency evacuations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is requested to identify and assess emergency shelters capable of withstanding hurricane conditions and to develop a plan to improve the State's hurricane shelter capacity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency shall:

     (1)  Identify all emergency shelters in the State that are designated for use during disasters;

     (2)  Assess the structural capability of each shelter to withstand hurricane conditions, including whether the shelter can safely withstand at least Category 1 hurricane-force winds;

     (3)  Compile and publish a list of shelters, including their locations and hurricane resilience capability, to be made available to the public; and

     (4)  Develop recommendations for improving hurricane shelter capacity in the State, including potential retrofits or upgrades to existing shelters; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Report Title: 

HIEMA; Hurricane Shelters; Emergency Preparedness; Report