Throughout history the residents and visitors of Hawai\u02bbi have lived under constant threat of a disaster impacting the islands with little to no warning. The advent of technology has allowed Hawai\u02bbi Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies, to develop and implement early warning countermeasures to protect the people of Hawai\u02bbi. Even with the best warning technologies and systems in place, having a good understanding of the types of disasters that may affect the islands is an important step for an individual to make an educated decision for that individual and their family.<\/p>\n
In May 22, 1960, the southern coast of Chile was rocked by the strongest earthquake to date recorded magnitude 9.5. This event generated tsunami conditions throughout the Pacific, with waves being recorded at 33 feet at their crest. Fifteen hours later, eight waves began arriving in Hawaiian waters between twelve and twenty minutes apart, and crashed in the town of Hilo, Waiakea, and Shimachi downtown area. The tsunami caused the deaths of 61 people and injured 262 more, as well as the destruction of 229 dwellings and 308 business and public buildings. The cost of the total damage was $23 million or $79,104,392 if event occurred in 2013.<\/p>\n
At a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI looked out here and saw this great big black wall coming in like this\u2026 The noise was terrific, the rolling\u2026\u00a0And then you heard the screaming. You look and people were stomping, trying to reach earth, trying to get out. Dogs swimming around. Then came the crash\u2026\u00a0Well, it hit buildings, the lighthouse, and the railroad track, and everything…\u00a0And I said, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s good-bye to Hilo.\u2019\u00a0\u201d \u00a0<\/em>\u2014Kapua Heuer<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n https:\/\/www.oralhistory.hawaii.edu\/pages\/historical\/tsunami.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/hvo.wr.usgs.gov\/volcanowatch\/archive\/1994\/94_05_20.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.tsunami.org\/archivesmore1960.html<\/a><\/p>\n May 21<\/strong><\/p>\n May 22<\/strong><\/p>\n May 23<\/strong><\/p>\n Hurricanes (typhoons) are by nature the most frequent and devastating natural disasters faced by coastal cities. High winds, massive storm surges, giant waves, and torrential rain all compound together to reign havoc upon a community. Hurricanes cause billions of dollars of damage a year throughout the world. A hurricane in Hawai\u02bbi is a rare event; however that does not mean that we are immune. Hurricanes in the islands are a constant threat due to the massive logistical challenges State Civil Defense and emergency workers face. Residents and visitors cannot simply pack up their vehicles and evacuate to another city or state, therefore it falls upon the logistic sector to ensure that adequate resources are available to handle the demand.<\/p>\n Hurricane Iniki challenged the State of Hawai\u02bbi and most notably the island of Kaua\u02bbi\u2019s capability to handle a Category IV storm which made direct landfall. As Iniki moved into the path of Kaua\u02bbi\u00a0, State Civil Defense and Hawai\u02bbi National Guard immediately began preplanning and staging operations in order to prepare the island as best as possible. Residents of Kaua\u02bbi were warned of the immediate dangers early Friday, September 11, the day Iniki made landfall.<\/p>\n It was believed Iniki would continue in a westward direction, however in the early morning hours she began heading north, and by 0500 State Civil Defense sirens were warning residents and visitors of Kaua\u02bbi and Ni\u02bbihau of the impending storm. With SCD\u2019s early warning capability Kaua\u02bbi had evacuated and opened all shelters in order to handle the influx residents and visitors in this time of need, this decision turned out to be a highly necessary evacuation as 1,421 dwellings were destroyed and another 5,152 heavily damaged (14,350 were affected).<\/p>\n Utilities were heavily affected as well; Kaua\u02bbi lost power and telecommunications during the onset of the storm with 50% of telephone poles destroyed, and only 20% of the island regaining power after a period of four weeks.<\/p>\n Finally, the economic toll placed upon Kaua\u02bbi at this time was a burden almost too much to bare, many of the island\u2019s agricultural and livestock resources were destroyed in the storm, as well as many businesses, governmental buildings, and television and radio station destroyed by the storm. All told Iniki caused over $1.8 billion in damages ($3.04 billion in 2013).<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nws.noaa.gov\/om\/assessments\/iniki\/iniki1.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n On April 4, 2012, Governor Neil Abercrombie requested a major disaster declaration due to severe storms, flooding, and landslides during the period of March 3-11, 2012 (requests were made for Public Assistance for Kaua\u02bbi County and Hazard Mitigation statewide).<\/p>\n April 18, 2012, President Obama declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawai\u02bbi. This declaration made Public Assistance requested by the Governor available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, and landslides in Kaua\u02bbi County. This declaration also made Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance requested by the Governor available for hazard mitigation measures statewide.<\/p>\n Public Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n FEMA-1967-DR (Declared April 8, 2011<\/strong>) March 25, 2011, Governor Neil Abercrombie requested a major disaster declaration due to tsunami waves on March 11, 2011. The request was made for Public Assistance for three counties and the City of Honolulu as well as Hazard Mitigation statewide.<\/p>\n April 8, 2011, President Obama declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawai\u02bbi.<\/p>\n Public Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n FEMA-1814-DR (Declared January 5, 2009<\/strong>) December 24, 2008, Governor Linda Lingle requested a major disaster declaration due to heavy rains, high winds, and flooding caused by a low pressure system during the period of December 10-16, 2008, Governor Lingle requested a declaration for Individual Assistance for the City and County of Honolulu; Public Assistance for the City and County of Honolulu and the County of Kaua\u02bbi; and Hazard Mitigation statewide.<\/p>\n January 5, 2009, President Bush declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawai\u02bbi.<\/p>\n Summary of Damage Assessment Information Used in Determining Whether to Declare a Major Disaster<\/strong> Public Assistance <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/pdf\/news\/pda\/1814.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n FEMA-1743-DR (Declared February 6, 2008<\/strong>) January 5, 2008, Governor Linda Lingle requested a major disaster declaration due to severe weather with tropical storm force winds, heavy rains, high surf, storm surge, and flooding during the period of December 4-7, 2007, Governor Lingle requested a declaration for Public Assistance for three counties and Hazard Mitigation for all counties.<\/p>\n February 6, 2008, President George Bush declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawai\u02bbi. This declaration made available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, high surf, flooding, and mudslides in Hawai\u02bbi, Kaua\u02bbi, and Maui Counties<\/p>\n Public Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n FEMA-1664-DR Public Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Disaster Declaration declared on\u00a0October 17, 2006 in Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu for Public Assistance [Categories C\u2013G] (already designated for debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A and B], including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.)<\/p>\n Individual Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n FEMA-DR-1640 (Declared May 2, 2006) Crop losses for the two sugar companies alone totaled more than $14 million over a three-year period.<\/p>\n https:\/\/archives.starbulletin.com\/2006\/05\/03\/news\/story03.html<\/a><\/p>\n FEMA DR-1575<\/strong> (Incident period: October 30, 2004) The National Weather Service stated that the M\u0101noa Stream\u2019s floodwaters flooded the M\u0101noa Marketplace and was swamping the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus, causing an estimated $76 million in damages to the university.<\/p>\n Total Public Assistance Grants\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $18,942,292.55\n
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Timeline: May 21-23, 1960 (in HST)<\/h4>\n
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\nHurricane Iniki on September 11, 1992<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Other FEMA Declared Disasters<\/h3>\n
\nFEMA-4062-DR <\/strong>(Declared April 18, 2012<\/strong>)
\nHawaii – Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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\nHawai\u02bbi \u2013 Tsunami Waves<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\nHawaii Severe Storms and Flooding<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIndividual Assistance <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\nHawai\u02bbi Severe Storms, High Surf, Flooding, and Mudslides<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/strong>Incident period:\u00a0October 15, 2006\u00a0to\u00a0January 15, 2007
\n<\/strong>Hawai\u02bbi Earthquake<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/strong>Incident period: February 20, 2006 to April 2, 2006
\nHawaii Severe Storms, Flooding,<\/em> Landslides, and Mudslides<\/strong><\/em><\/strong>
\nGovernor Linda Lingle requested federal assistance following a series of storms that blanketed the islands triggering multiple floods, landslides, and major agricultural damage. Federal funding has allowed for<\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/em><\/strong>Major Disaster Declaration declared on February 1, 2005
\n<\/strong>Hawaii Severe Storms<\/strong> and Flash Flooding<\/strong><\/em>
\nOctober 30, 2004 the Manoa Stream began toflood around 7 p.m.The stream crested at 4 feet and began to enter the inundating the surrounding area. Other areas around O\u02bbahu, including:\u00a0Kalakaua Avenue between Makaloa and Phillips streets, and Kamehameha Highway near the H-3 freeway and between Pu\u02bbuhale and Middle streets.<\/p>\n
\nEmergency Work (Categories A-B)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $9,151,696.70
\nPermanent Work (Categories C-G)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $8,882,057.41<\/p>\n