THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

40

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CONVENE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY REVIEW TASK FORCE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, on January 13, 2018, at approximately 8:06 a.m., the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, issued a ballistic missile alert that incorrectly informed mobile phone users across the State that Hawaii was under a missile attack and then took 38 minutes to notify users that this was a false alarm; and

 

     WHEREAS, on February 18, 2018, the Deputy Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense issued a review of this incident, the All-Hazards Preparedness Improvement Action Plan and Report; and

 

     WHEREAS, this report emphasizes the need to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency using a "whole of community" approach to preparedness and resiliency; and

 

     WHEREAS, the report also recommends full participation of federal, state, county, and private emergency management stakeholders in the planning process; and

 

WHEREAS, there have been several incidents of warning sirens being activated accidentally or without adequate advance notice, causing public alarm; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State of Hawaii Department of Defense is requested to convene an emergency management agency review task force for the purposes of:

     (1)  Reviewing the capabilities and weaknesses of the State and counties in emergency notification and disaster planning, response, and recovery;

 

     (2)  Assessing whether emergency coordination and disaster preparedness among federal, state, county, and private stakeholders is adequate; and

 

     (3)  Recommending whether new public schools and government buildings in the State should be required to include a safe room or area capable of withstanding a category 3 hurricane for occupants; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at a minimum, the following individuals are requested to serve and be included as members of the emergency management agency review task force:

 

     (1)  The Governor or the Governor's designee;

 

     (2)  The Adjutant General or the Adjutant General's designee;

 

     (3)  The Director of Transportation or the Director's designee;

 

     (4)  The Superintendent of Education or the Superintendent's designee;

 

     (5)  The President of the University of Hawaii or the President's designee;

 

     (6)  The President of the Hawaii Tourism Authority or the President's designee;

 

     (7)  The Commander of the United States Pacific Command or the Commander's designee;

 

     (8)  The Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board or the Executive Director's designee;

     (9)  The Chair of the State Emergency Communications Committee or the Chair's designee;

 

    (10)  The Director of the Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu, or the Director's designee;

 

    (11)  The Administrator of the Emergency Management Agency, County of Maui, or the Administrator's designee;

 

    (12)  The Administrator of the Civil Defense Agency, County of Hawaii, or the Administrator's designee;

 

    (13)  The Administrator of the Emergency Management Agency, County of Kauai, or the Administrator's designee;

 

    (14)  The President of The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii or the President's designee;

 

    (15)  The President of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association or the President's designee;

 

    (16)  The President of The Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, Inc., or the President's designee;

 

    (17)  A Co-Chair of the Airlines Committee of Hawaii or the Co-Chair's designee;

 

    (18)  The President of the Hawaii Shippers' Council or the President's designee;

 

    (19)  The President of the Hawaii Maritime Council or the President's designee;

 

    (20)  One representative from the community designated by the President of the Senate; and

 

    (21)  One representative from the community designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the emergency management agency review task force are requested to elect a chair, a vice chair, and any other necessary officers from among the members; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency management agency review task force is requested to convene its first meeting no later than July 1, 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency management agency review task force is requested to submit:

 

     (1)  A preliminary report on its progress to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019; and

 

     (2)  A final report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency management agency review task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Adjutant General; the Director of Transportation; the Superintendent of Education; the President of the University of Hawaii; the President of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; the Commander of the United States Pacific Command; the Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board; the Chair of the State Emergency Communications Committee; the Director of the Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu; the Administrator of the Emergency Management Agency, County of Maui; the Administrator of the Civil Defense Agency, County of Hawaii; the Administrator of the Emergency Management Agency, County of Kauai; the President of The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; the President of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association; the President of The Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, Inc.; the Co-Chairs of the Airlines Committee of Hawaii; the President of the Hawaii Shippers' Council; and the President of the Hawaii Maritime Council.

Report Title: 

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Task Force