COM 0925.001 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 25 (ZONING), ARTICLE 4, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW DIVISION RELATING TO TSUNAMI SIRENS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The Council recognizes that tsunamis are a real threat to lives and property in coastal areas. The County of Hawai`i is particularly sensitive to this type of threat, with an unfortunate legacy in terms of tsunami disasters in 1946 and 1960. The December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean earthquake generated one of the deadliest tsunamis in modern history and erased communities along the coastlines of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia, killing over 230,000 people. Had a tsunami warning system been in place, many lives would likely have been saved. A recent tsunami threat in the early morning of February 27, 2010, reminded residents that tsunamis are indeed a reality. It is critical not only to prepare for evacuation in a safe and orderly manner, but also to receive adequate and timely warning of this potential disaster. At this time, there are 71 tsunami sirens in Hawai`i County: - Six (6) along the Hamakua Coast; - Sixteen (16) along the Hilo coast and within Hilo, from Hakalau to Leleiwi; - Fifteen (15) in the Puna area, from Kea'au to Kaimu; - Eight (8) along the southern coast, from Pahala to Miloli`i; - Sixteen (16) along the Kona coast, from Pu'uhonua o Honaunau to the Natural Energy Lab of Hawai`i Authority; and - Ten (10) in Kohala, of which eight are coastal sirens from Puako to Niuli`i. However, residential and tourist - populated areas such as Hualalai /Ktiki`o, Waikoloa Beach, and Mauna Lani Beach do not have tsunami sirens. The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that any coastal development meeting the parameters of this ordinance that has not received plan approval prior to the enactment of this ordinance will include a tsunami siren in its design and construction. SECTION 2. Chapter 25, article 4, Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), is amended by adding a new division to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "Division . Tsunami Sirens. Section 25 -4- . Definitions. "Tsunami siren" means a noisemaking mechanical or electronic device, generating sound to provide warning of approaching danger. The tsunami siren is one type of tsunami warning system, and is linked to the civil defense system, activated by the County's civil defense system or by neighboring tsunami warning centers, in case of a potential life - threatening tsunami. Section 25 -4- . Applicability. This division shall apply only to applications for plan approval: