Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1343 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all emergency shelters in the State to be in compliance with recommended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hurricane standards for doors and windows.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense (DOD), Oahu Civil Defense Agency, and Select Building Products Hawaii, LLC.

The primary objective for providing community shelters is ensuring the safety of the occupants within the shelters, most commonly in hurricanes. FEMA has conducted studies to determine design parameters for shelters intended to provide protection from tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme wind events. FEMA has found that, to a large extent, wind damage and building failure are preventable through compliance with up-to-date building codes and engineering standards and the use of construction techniques proven to minimize wind damage.

Testimony on this measure indicates that windows and doors are the most important elements of a shelter. Secure windows and doors prevent the roof from flying off, causing flying debris. Your Committee notes the recommendation of the DOD that this measure be amended to change the FEMA standards to "modern standards". FEMA standards are more stringent than modern standards. However, your Committee is not satisfied with the vague terminology of "modern standards" that could mean anything. Your Committee encourages the DOD to rework the language as this measure continues through the legislative process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1343 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.