Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 10. Floods

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Chapter 10:Hazard Analysis—Floods Chapter 27, Flood Plain Management: This Chapter focuses on establishing building code and infrastructure requirements that would minimize flood damages based on hazards identified by the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Recommendations may also address uncertainties inherent with the FEMA maps and measures to reduce flood hazards for non- compliant structures in special flood hazard areas. Because substantial changes to this Chapter were made in November 2007, major revisions are not anticipated. Chapter 23, Subdivisions: This chapter needs to be revised to reflect current requirements for subdivisions that are within special flood hazard areas. Upgrading of current drainage improvement requirements will also be considered. Chapter 25, Zoning: Like Chapter 23, upgrading of drainage improvement requirements will be a consideration. However, its applicability to the various types of zoning within Hawaii County and/or development restrictions within special flood hazard areas, watersheds, forests and other similar areas will a major issue of consideration. Because it is the responsibility of the implementing agency to develop legislative proposals, identification of pros and cons of each recommendation including any economic impacts, implementation measures and/or any legal issues or constraints is an essential part of this project. 10.4.1.5 Flood Forecasting In recent years, the NWS has installed more telemetered rain gauges to aid in flood prediction. Two Doppler radars on this island provide rainfall intensity in quantitative graphic form. A corps of human observers is also maintained to report significant events. Warnings for specific areas are broadcast via normal and special radio/TV forecasts and by special County Civil Defense announcements as well as over the NOAA Weather Radio. Thus, short-term mitigation is being addressed. The problem of vehicles being driven across flooding streams must be met by road hazard signs and public education for hunters and others using remote roads. 10.4.1.6 Pacific Services Center Flood Response Tool The Hawai'i Flood Response Tool is an ongoing project to develop a geographic information system (GIS)-based application to provide enhanced flood response in Hawai'i. The application will centralize access to diverse weather and stream flow data from various locations and sources to allow for timely analysis and response. This software, which is being developed for local emergency managers, will provide an improved operational picture for flood response activities by automatically logging disparate real-time and near real-time observation data and text products via the Internet. The information will be displayed along with historical and baseline data in an-easy to-interpret format utilizing GIS. This rapid access to new data streams should provide a more realistic picture of on-the-ground conditions and reduce data compilation time. More information on the Hawai'i Flood Response Tool is available at nos.csc.psegnoaa. og_v. 10-36 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan