Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 01. Introduction

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Chapter 1:Introduction ➢Dam Failures (Chapter 11) ➢High Surf(Chapter 12) ➢Coastal Erosion(Chapter 13) ➢Droughts (Chapter 14) ➢HAZMAT(Chapter 15) • Shelters(Chapter 16). Facilities used for the purposes of sheltering residents in the event of a hazard are presented in this chapter. • Risk Assessment (Chapter 17). Those hazards determined to be of sufficient threat to the County of Hawaii were further examined to determine the degree to which the population, structures and land areas are vulnerable to the hazards. The analysis examined location of population concentrations, critical facilities, community resources, major transportation routes and infrastructure lines. • Mitigation Strategy (Chapter 18). By overlaying the hazard areas and community assets, problems and issues were identified. The strategy to address these problems and issues consisted of clarifying mitigation goals and objectives, identifying alternative mitigation actions, selecting and prioritizing the actions to be implemented, and developing an action plan. Mitigation actions include improving warning systems and evacuation plans; "hardening" critical facilities to withstand hurricane and earthquake forces; structural and land treatment measures that contain or redirect natural hazards; planning and regulatory measures to guide development away from hazards and establishing standards for managing exposure to hazards; and incentive and educational measures to encourage practices which are consistent with the disaster resistant community goals. • Planning process and update procedures (Chapter 19). The last chapter documents the extent of public participation and methodology used to develop the plan, as well as the methods and frequency to keep the plan updated. 1.3 Overview of Hawaii County 1.3.1 Geography The State of Hawaii consists of eight major islands (Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe, Hawaii) and 124 small islands, reef, and shoals (referred to as the Northwest Hawaiian Islands). Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most isolated places on Earth-- 2,400 miles to the West Coast, 3,800 miles to Japan, 6 time zones separating Hawaii from the eastern United States. The Pacific Ocean is rimmed by active faults where tectonic earthquakes occur that can generate tsunamis (see Figure 1-1).4 4 Most of the tsunamis that have affected the Hawaiian Islands originated in the major earthquake belts, or ocean trenches,that surround the Pacific Ocean. These massive earthquakes along faults are called tectonic earthquakes. The devastating tsunamis of 1946 and 1960 were both generated by this type of tectonic earthquake, the former originating in the trench along the Aleutian Islands and the latter along a fault near Chile. 1-7 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan