HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
142
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
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.
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
HIEMA; Hurricane Shelters; Emergency Preparedness; Report