|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
114 |
|
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE CIVIL DEFENSE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING THE FACILITIES AT LUALUALEI, WHICH ARE OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY, TO BE USED AS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CIVILIANS.
WHEREAS, natural disasters appear to be increasing in frequency and intensity; and
WHEREAS, the State must have a comprehensive emergency preparedness program to mitigate hazards, enhance preparedness for major disasters, and accelerate response and recovery when disaster strikes; and
WHEREAS, current concerns and challenges for the State Civil Defense are the lack of emergency spaces throughout the State, evacuation of tourists and residents, evacuation of the special needs population, special needs emergency shelters, and the development and maintenance of plans, public awareness, and involvement; and
WHEREAS, plans to protect the public health, safety, and welfare during disasters caused by fire, flood, tidal wave, earthquake, or other natural causes and enemy attack, sabotage, and other hostile action must be made to ensure the ability for people to move quickly and efficiently to safe shelters; and
WHEREAS, the communities of Waianae, Makaha, Makua, Honokai Hale, Nanakuli, and Lualualei have only one major roadway with which to enter or exit their districts and in a time of emergency this highway can easily become congested or even shut down completely; and
WHEREAS, shelters for the people on the west coast of Oahu need to be in a close and convenient location, large enough to handle evacuees from the area, and structurally able to bear the brunt of disasters such as hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, about one thousand seven hundred acres at Lualualei were taken from the Hawaiian Home Lands in 1930 and 1933 under federal executive orders when Hawaii was a territory and turned over to the United States Navy for ammunition storage; and
WHEREAS, within the valley at the base of the Waianae Mountain range are two hundred sixty six underground and above-ground ammunition storage areas that make up the Lualualei Naval Magazine; and
WHEREAS, the facilities in the Lualualei Naval Magazine may make an ideal site for emergency shelters due to their location and the structural integrity of the bunker-style storage areas; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Civil Defense Division of the Department of Defense is requested to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of allowing the facilities at Lualualei, which are owned by the United States Navy, to be used as an emergency shelter for civilians; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study should examine:
(1) Any necessary agreements between the State and the United States Navy;
(2) The sufficiency and capacity of the facilities to provide emergency shelter;
(3) Logistical challenges to making all or part of the facilities available to civilians for use during an emergency;
(4) Any costs involved; and
(5) Any other pertinent issues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Civil Defense Division is also requested to submit a report of its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor, and the State Adjutant General.
Lualualei Naval Magazine; Emergency Shelters