2016-2018 Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (Revised January 2017)

The State of Hawaii is especially vulnerable to natural disasters due to its unique geographical setting. Hawaii has seen numerous destructive disasters: a category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Iniki, which struck on September 11, 1992; Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014; devastating lava flows on the Big Island between 1983 and 1993 that destroyed almost 200 homes, and again in 2015; severe flooding in March 2006 resulting in a dam break that killed seven people and storms that caused extensive flooding and damage on Maui in September 2016 resulting in a presidential disaster declaration; and a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in 2006 that caused severe damage on the Big Island, isolated a Maui community and resulted in an island-wide power outage on Oahu. The March 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami caused major damage and destruction, especially to the Big Island.  Tsunamis have accounted for more lost lives than the total of all other disasters in Hawaii.  On April 1, 1946, 159 people lost their lives in Hawaii from a devastating tsunami that struck the Pacific, particularly in Hilo Town on the Big Island.

In the aftermath from these and other past disasters, the citizens of Hawaii have demonstrated remarkable resilience. This ever-present potential for a disaster, compounded by Hawaii’s remote geographic location, underscores the need for a comprehensive, all-hazards approach for emergency preparedness and response.

The State of Hawaii has embraced a capabilities-based approach to training and exercising that addresses a broad range of risks and vulnerabilities. In pursuit of this approach, Hawaii has identified a need to coordinate planning, training, and exercising to strengthen overall proficiency in executing the 32 “core capabilities” defined in the 2015 National Preparedness Goal. Training and exercising play a crucial role in this process and provide Hawaii with a strategy for attaining, practicing, validating and improving new capabilities.

The Multi-Year Training and Exercise Planning Workshop (TEPW), conducted by Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on October 21, 2016, compiled stakeholder training and exercise plans and coordinated training and exercise schedules statewide. This input supplied the information to produce the 2016-2018 Hawaii Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (TEP). Hawaii’s training and exercise programs are administered by Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the local emergency response agencies, Office of Homeland Security and FEMA Region IX, Pacific Area Office.

The Hawaii TEP is the roadmap for Hawaii to accomplish the priorities described within this document. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is pursuing a Corrective Action Program (CAP) that combines enhanced planning, realistic exercises and innovative training to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from emergencies and disasters that do occur. Training and exercise activities are the cornerstones to improving Hawaii’s preparedness capabilities.

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