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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
325 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING HAWAII'S NATURAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING CENTER TO WORK WITH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY CARE GIVING, KUPUNA CAUCUS, AND OTHER INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING AT-RISK COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS, the Legislature has acknowledged the importance of Hawaii's kupuna and through Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, has established the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature further acknowledged the need to assist frail and vulnerable elders by enacting legislation:
(1) To provide for adult protective services;
(2) To protect the structural integrity of nursing homes and other institutions;
(3) To maintain the safety of elderly residents in condominiums; and
(4) Other measures that will assist elders who are "aging in place" when a natural disaster occurs";
and
WHEREAS, in the event of a natural disaster, there exists the potential for great harm and injury to the elderly and persons with disabilities, absent adequate natural disaster preparation and training; and
WHEREAS, during Hurricane Rita, a number of nursing home residents died in New Orleans due to a lack of preparedness, and similar incidents in Hawaii should be avoided by preparing for hurricanes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, large numbers of elders live alone and may be in need of assistance in the event of a natural disaster, especially if separated from family, friends, and caregivers; and
WHEREAS, the elderly who live in condominiums and other multi-unit buildings are at greater risk because many buildings do not have emergency plans or procedures to meet the immediate and short-term needs of their residents who are aged or who may have disabilities; and
WHEREAS, recent federal legislation established the Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii to develop and provide training in all aspects of disaster management within the Pacific region and to develop tools and models for evaluating risks to urban areas, while planning for the response, recovery, and reconstruction of the community in the aftermath of natural disasters; 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 the University of Hawaii Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center is requested to work with the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Care Giving, Kupuna Caucus, and other interested organizations and persons to develop disaster preparedness programs emphasizing at-risk communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the University of Hawaii Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center, Director of Human Services, Director of Health, Director of the Executive Office on Aging, Chairperson of the Policy Advisory Board on Elderly Affairs, Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board, and the Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii.
Natural disaster preparedness training for at-risk communities.