THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	58
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the civil defense DIVISION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE to designate a lead staff to address the needs of individuals with disabilities and special health needs.

     WHEREAS, given the recent disasters, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita of 2005, and more recently the earthquakes affecting Hawaii, the needs of individuals with disabilities and other special health needs became more apparent as a part of overall community emergency preparedness; and

     WHEREAS, an interagency workgroup was convened in October 2005, to address these needs; and

     WHEREAS, the interagency workgroup developed a 2006 Interagency Action Plan for the Emergency Preparedness of People with Disabilities and Special Health Needs; and

     WHEREAS, the interagency work group took action on many of the goals and objectives during 2006 and subsequently updated the action plan in February 2007; and

     WHEREAS, the 2006 and 2007 interagency action plans identified preparedness planning, notification, sheltering, and transportation as the most pressing issues for individuals with disabilities and special health needs; and

     WHEREAS, the interagency action plan set forth the following goals:

     (1)  All pre-designated locations used and managed as emergency evacuation shelters shall meet minimum requirements for facility access in the area of ingress and use of restroom (toilet) facilities to meet the needs of Level I individuals;

     (2)  The capacity of the community to "shelter-in-place" shall be increased;

     (3)  The number and dispersion of community emergency shelters as centers to provide augmented health support for Level II individuals shall be increased, with the long-term goal of having all community shelters able to support Level II individuals;

     (4)  An accessible public and professional personal emergency readiness campaign shall be developed to assist everyone to make plans for themselves and their families in the event of an emergency;

     (5)  Individuals with disabilities or special health needs shall have an emergency evacuation plan in place developed by themselves or by their caregivers to implement in the event of a notification of evacuation;

     (6)  Education shall be provided to all health care providers in order that appropriate emergency evacuation plans for health care facilities or settings are in place;

     (7)  Individuals with disabilities or special health needs shall receive notification of an evacuation through the State Civil Defense mechanisms in an accessible format; and

     (8)  Each county shall have a plan for providing accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities and special health needs who have no transportation options or means to get to and from the emergency shelter; and

     WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to expand and improve Hawaii's emergency management operations by supporting the equipping of emergency shelters and the establishment of a statewide coordinator to address and plan for the specific and specialized needs of individuals with disabilities and special health needs; and

     WHEREAS, the Civil Defense Division of the State Department of Defense is the designated lead agency for the Emergency Management System in the State of Hawaii; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Civil Defense Division of the State Department of Defense designate a lead staff person to address the disaster preparedness needs of individuals with disabilities and special health needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Defense is requested to report the designation of its lead staff person to address the disaster preparedness needs of individuals with disabilities and special health needs to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 Regular Session; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Adjutant General of the Department of Defense, the Director and Vice-Director of the Civil Defense Division, the Director of Health, the Director of Human Services, the Chair and Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Chair and Executive Administrator of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and each county Civil Defense or Emergency Management Agency.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Hawaii State Civil Defense; Individuals with Disabilities