HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	118
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging associations of apartment owners and condominium unit owners' associations in the state to develop emergency and evacuation plans for residents, including provisions for seniors and residents with special health needs.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has an increasing population of seniors and adults, many of whom live independently at home in high-rise and multiple unit residential buildings; and

     WHEREAS, many of the State's seniors have special medical needs, such as the inability to ascend or descend stairs, dependence on oxygen, use of wheelchairs or other assistive devices, special dietary needs, and refrigerated prescription medications; and

     WHEREAS, these special medical needs become even more critical and require attention during an emergency, especially situations that result in the loss of electricity to power building elevators, appliances, and medical devices; and

     WHEREAS, associations of apartment owners, condominium unit owners' associations and first responders to emergencies would benefit from being aware of the special needs of residents, and would be able to establish procedures to ensure that those needs are addressed in an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, apartment owners and condominium unit owners' would benefit from the development of an evacuation plan for residents of those buildings, including residents with special needs, and make all residents aware of procedures and evacuation routes that they should use during an emergency; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that associations of apartment owners and condominium unit owners' associations throughout the State are urged to conduct voluntary surveys of the special needs of their residents and make preparations to address those needs in the event of an emergency; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that associations of apartment owners and condominium unit owners' associations throughout the State are urged to develop emergency plans that include evacuation plans and that address the special needs of senior and medically fragile residents to be used in the event of an emergency and are further urged to distribute the plans to all residents and post the plans publicly where they may be viewed by residents and visitors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Civil Defense Division of the Department of Defense, to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the Executive Director of the Real Estate Commission who in turn is requested to transmit copies to the chairperson of the board of each registered association of apartment owners and condominium unit owners' association, and to the Chief of the fire department of each county.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Condominiums; Emergency Preparedness