STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3583

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 2 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY DRAFT EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE AREAS WITHIN LAVA ZONES 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 6,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop a preliminary draft evacuation plan for the areas within lava zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four members of the Hawai‘i County Council. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committee finds that on April 19, 2021, the United States Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and County of Hawaii Civil Defense provided a brief to the Hawaii Island Legislative Delegation regarding the probability of an eruption at Mauna Loa, where it was identified that there is no current evacuation plan in place specifically for lava zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Your Committee believes that the imminent threat of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanic eruptions to Hawaii Island warrants the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to expeditiously collaborate with the County of Hawaii to prepare for a potential volcanic eruption. This measure will protect the residents of Hawaii Island by requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop a preliminary draft evacuation plan for lava zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 2 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair