Appropriates funds for tsunami preparedness efforts, including updating maps, installing and maintaining alarm sirens, constructing additional shelter space providing around-the-clock alert staff, and expanding public education campaigns.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The recent tsunami in southeast Asia claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and caused widespread economic devastation estimated in the billions of dollars. This situation is made even more tragic with the realization that additional lives could have been spared and businesses and property protected if adequate tsunami preparedness measures, such as warning sirens or evacuation plans, were in place.

Hawaii is no stranger to the destruction and devastation that tsunamis can bring. Hawaii's geographical location makes it especially vulnerable to tsunamis that can strike in a matter of hours due to an earthquake in Asia thousands of miles away or seismic activity beneath the ocean floor. Hawaii's experience with tsunamis has led to the creation of a well-coordinated tsunami monitoring and forecast system among federal, state, and county governments. However, even with this comprehensive, state of the art monitoring system in place, Hawaii's tsunami preparedness efforts have not kept pace. Antiquated siren systems, outdated evacuation maps in phone books, insufficient shelter space, limited public education projects, and a lack of around-the-clock alert staff means that Hawaii residents may lose critical seconds in evacuation time or, worse, be unable to access shelter in the event a tsunami hits.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for tsunami preparedness efforts, including maintaining and installing new siren systems, updating evacuation maps in phone books, constructing additional shelter space and retrofitting existing public buildings that could serve as emergency shelters, providing around-the-clock alert staff for the civil defense division, and expanding public education campaigns emphasizing the need for tsunami preparedness.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for tsunami preparedness efforts, including maintaining and installing new siren systems, updating evacuation maps in phone books, constructing additional shelter space and retrofitting existing public buildings that could serve as emergency shelters, providing around-the-clock alert staff for the civil defense division, and expanding public education campaigns emphasizing the need for tsunami preparedness.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.