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of severe rainfall events. As stream flows and <br />velocities change, erosion patterns also change, <br />altering channel shapes and depths, potentially <br />increasing sedimentation behind dams and <br />affecting habitat and water quality. Changes in <br />watershed vegetation and soil moisture conditions <br />also change runoff and recharge patterns. <br />Additionally, deforestation adds to the impact of <br />extreme rainfall events. When forests are removed <br />from a watershed, stream flows can easily double. <br />Increased sediment prevents streambeds from <br />carrying the increased discharge, causing <br />floodplains and floodplain elevations to increase. <br />Numerous County roads, bridges, and structures <br />are exposed to severe rainfall events and <br />compounding hazards. Sea level rise affects critical <br />infrastructure including hazard materials and waste <br />storage facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, <br />and transportation, communication, energy, <br />safety, and security systems. Structures along the <br />coastline in South Hilo, North Kona, and South <br />Kohala have the greatest sea level rise exposure. <br />Disruptions to emergency services can occur due <br />to the impacts on roads, uti.lity lines, and other <br />critical infrastructure. More severe flood events will <br />increase the number of brown water advisories <br />that carry land -based sediment and contaminants, <br />including sewage, dead animals, and pesticides, to <br />the shoreline, beaches, and coastal waters, posing <br />risks to public safety and coastal ecosystem health. <br />The General Plan further expands on strategies to <br />increase resilience in the Transportation Access <br />and Mobility, Public Utilities, and Public <br />Facilities and Services sections. <br />Energy Resilience <br />Increased air temperature places greater demand <br />on energy consumption. A greater dependency on <br />air conditioners will be necessary for organizations <br />including hospitals and schools. Moreover, <br />technology such as data servers require immense <br />amounts of cooling, which will increase energy <br />demand as temperatures and technology use rise. <br />Disasters from climate change can also increase <br />energy demand as power sources go out and need <br />to be replaced with fossil fuel. Greater energy <br />demand further increases GHG emissions, <br />especially without renewable and reliable energy <br />sources. The General Plan expands on renewable <br />energy in the Public Utilities section. <br />3.0 Addressing Climate Change for Island -Wide Health I County of Hawaii General Plan 63 <br />