STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1520-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.R. No. 216

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 216 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, AND KAUAI COUNTY TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE IN INFORMATION THAT WILL INFORM AND ENABLE HOMEOWNERS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THE FLOOD ZONE THAT HOMES ARE LOCATED IN AND THE RISKS OF FLOODING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this Resolution is to urge the counties to provide more information on flooding to enable homeowners and businesses to learn more about flood zones and the risks of flooding.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association of Realtors.  A Kaneohe Neighborhood Board member submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a home located in a Special Flood Hazard Area has a twenty-six per cent chance of flooding within a thirty-year period.  Additionally, twenty to twenty-five per cent of the claims received by the National Flood Insurance Program are from homeowners outside high flood risk areas.

 

     To assist homeowners with information on flooding and flood insurance, online tutorials are available from flood insurance rate maps and flood insurance studies on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website.  County planning departments can also provide flood information and inform homeowners on whether flood zones in their area are considered high risk or low-to-moderate risk zones.

 

     By requesting the counties to provide more information on flooding, this Resolution will enable residents, businesses, renters, and landowners to learn about the flood zones in which their homes and businesses may be located and the best way to protect themselves.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 216 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair