GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $1,325,000 TO PROVIDE HURRICANE PROTECTION FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS STATEWIDE

For Immediate Release:  July 22, 2006

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $1,325,000 for the design phase of a project to retrofit 32 facilities statewide, including public schools and other buildings that can serve as hurricane and emergency shelters.

“Disaster preparedness is a responsibility we all must share,” said Governor Lingle.  “It is not a question of ‘if’ another hurricane will strike, but ‘when’.  The measures taken to retrofit these public structures will provide more space to shelter our residents during damaging storms.”

Retrofit improvements will involve upgrading windows, doors and other components that are vulnerable to high winds and flying debris.
 
This project will add an estimated 14,000 shelter spaces to the State’s inventory.  It is part of an ongoing series of projects aimed at easing a shortage that State Civil Defense officials estimate to be about 124,000 shelter spaces statewide. 

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For more information, contact:

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations 
Phone: 586-0043

MG Robert Lee
Adjutant General, State of Hawai`i
Director, State Civil Defense
Phone: 733-4246