Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency

Voters in the 2016 General Election approved an amendment to the Kaua‘i County Charter that renames the county’s Civil Defense Agency (KCDA) as the Emergency Management Agency. The name change takes effect on Thursday, Dec. 8. According to Elton Ushio, emergency management administrator, the amendment makes the Charter consistent with the state’s emergency management law, which establishes the powers of the Governor and mayors during disasters, and renames the Civil Defense Agency as the Emergency Management Agency. “Our agency still performs the same functions,” Ushio explained. “We coordinate the efforts of all levels of government and the private sector to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other threats and hazards.” In addition to the KCDA name change, the other amendments that were approved by the voters include:  Correcting gender neutrality and grammatical, formatting and spelling errors in the County Charter.  Expanding the duties of the fire chief and defining authority to executive powers and duties.  Establishing a Zoning Board of Appeals to assist the Planning Commission in providing due process for appellants.  Establishing a permanent Charter Review Commission.