HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.241 2022-2024From: janetK4atlock
Sent: Tuesday, November 19,2O241O15AM �
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Oppose Bill 169, Kona Three LLC
Aloha Chair Kimball. and County COUDciinneOlbero'
Mahato for this opportunity to testify in opposition to Bill. 169 (Draft 3).
-_`
This biK is opposed hvCounty and State of Hovv8i'i Bnenja, COrDmOiaSiODS, Committees, and
Departments, including:
° County ofHawai'iCultural Resources Commission
" County ofHowai'iKona Community Development Plan Action Committee
v County ofHewai'i Leeward Planning Commission
° County of Hawai'i Public Access, Open Space, & Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC)
° Kona Soil and Water Conservation District (funded by the County of Hawai'i R&D Department)
° N5Ala Ho|eHavvai'iTrail and Access Program (ODF/VW.DLNR)`
as well as volunteer, respected professional archeologists, and hundreds of local concerned citizens.
The applicant - afterjumpingthe line atthe Planning Commission level and insisting that this matter be
decided quickLy - has now requested a postponement. They state thatyour consideringthis matterwouLd
beo"dist[8CtiOn"while they open negotiations for apossible PONCpurchase. TOany economist, this
appears to be an attempt to have it both ways, to'have your cake and eat it too,' not a "sincere and
reasonable" request. Even during negotiations, they can sett to someone etse, submit a new (not 40 year
old) rezone appLication, donate to a nonprofit, etc. There is no reason for the County to be on hold while
they pursue whatever they want to.
In short, a PONC purchase is compLeteLy separate from your consideration of this expired, outdated, and
pOtOnh@ik/eDvi[oD[n8nt8ibcatastrophic application.
Ptease do not let the appLicant distract you. Ptease vote no on Bill 169.
Mahato for your time and thoughtful. attention to the facts of this appLication.
From: janet Matlock
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2024 9:23 AM
To: Council Testimony; Villegas, Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka; Kimball, Heather; Evans, Cynthia
F.W.; Galimba, Michelle M.; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz,
Ashley; Lee Loy, Sue
Subject: Comment for Limited Meeting / Site Visit Kona Three LLC 10/15/24
Attachments: FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis shows - The
Washington Post.pdf, Advisory Message_ AVOID Kuakini Hwy in Kailua-Kona for the
next several hours due to flooding. Some roads.pdf; Heavy rain in West Hawaii floods
roads, washes trash, debris into ocean _ Big Island Now.pdf
Aloha County Council,
Mahalo for takingthe time to conduct a site visit to the Kona Three LLC application parcels. As you know, this area of Kailua
Kona was struck by a flash flood less than a month ago, causing both road closures and environmentally -damaging debris
runoff into the ocean (see attached Nixle alert, Big Island Now article PDFs).
As you will be looking at these parcels with an awareness of flood zone mapping, the following direct quotes from a
Washington Post article: "FEMA maps missed parts of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene, Post analysis shows,"
published Sunday, October 13, 2024, are instructive on the risks of using outdated and insufficient data. (Bold emphasis
added.). A PDF of the full article is attached. https•//www.washinLtonDost.com/weather/2024/10/13/fema-flood-maps-
hurricane-helene/
" The federal government's flood maps, which are used nationwide to signal areas vulnerable to inundation, vastly
underestimated the flood risk faced by properties in the parts of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene, according
to data analyzed by The Washington Post.
The discrepancy shows how the agency's maps — which rely only on floods observed in the past and don't take into account
flooding from heavy rain, small streams and tributaries, or climate change's future impact— can fall short when
assessing current risks in a wetter hotter world.
Flood experts say the maps need to be urgently updated to inform homeowners and prospective residents of their actual
risk.
Experts have long warned that FEMA's flood maps may be tagging behind the current science of flood risk. They do not take
into account flooding caused by heavy precipitation — which is expected to grow more intense as the Earth warms — and
took only at past flooding conditions, rather than future climate risk.
"It's like you're driving down the highway but you're only looking in the rearview mirror; "Weber said. "
Please keep these cautions in mind as you drive down the highway to observe the topography and consider the already
alarming, yet likely outdated, flood zone maps of this area.
Mahalo,
janet Matlock
Kailua Kona
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/fema-flood-maps...
FEMA maps missed parts of North Carolina
Extf Vfta throt%botM6wann®li tN.C., iCbjlf# eac9ricaBpJiWarmribe RRI ttait6rbMencNurricanes
Management Agency did not designate this neighborhood a flood hazard zone. (Jabin Botsford/The
Washington Post)
A Washington Post analysis shows how Federal Emergency Management Agency flood
maps underestimated the risk homeowners faced in areas devastated by Hurricane
Helene.
0 8 min (:> Q Q 1790
By Kevin Crowe, Shannon Osaka and John Muyskens
Updated October 13, 2024 at 10:18 a.m. EDT I Published October 13, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
1 of 5 10/14/24, 7:08 AM
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/fema-flood-maps...
devastated by Hurricane Helene, Post analysis
shows
That "Special Flood Hazard Area" designation, which compels homeowners to buy flood insurance if they want to get
a federally -backed mortgage, indicates where the Federal Emergency Management Agency sees a risk of a 1-in-loo-
year flood. Scientists consider that zone, which amounts to a 1 percent chance of flooding in a given year, as facing
significant danger.
In those mountainous areas, according to a Post analysis of First Street's data, the number of properties at risk could
be seven times higher than what FEMA flood maps indicate.
The discrepancy shows how the agency's maps — which rely only on floods observed in the past and don't take into
account flooding from heavy rain, small streams and tributaries, or climate change's future impact — can fall short
when assessing current risks in a wetter, hotter world.
Hurricane Helene devastated the Appalachians late last month, dropping huge amounts of rainfall on mountain
towns many thought were safe from extreme weather. The torrential precipitation obliterated roads, cut off
communication systems, and left homes far from coastal areas flooded and destroyed.
In Buncombe County, where rising waters swamped areas like Asheville and Swannanoa, First Street's maps show a
much larger area of flood risk than the FEMA maps. About 2,100 properties out of about 125,000 in the county are
in FEMA's flood zone compared with 19,500 under First Street's model, according to The Post's analysis.
FEMA 100-year flood plain First Street 100-year flood plain
1-in-100
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1 MILE
Sources: Flood hazard data from FEMA, First Street. Map data C
OpenStreetMap contributors, Overture Maps Foundation.
Flood experts say the maps need to be urgently updated to inform homeowners and prospective residents of their
2 of 5 10/14/24, 7:08 AM
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis ..
dt;Ludi riZ)n.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/ 10/ 13/fema-flood-maps...
"We are now in an environment of constantly escalating risk," said Carolyn Kousky, a flood insurance expert and the
associate vice president for economics and policy at the Environmental Defense Fund. "And the maps aren't keeping
up.
Former FEMA leaders and current agency officials, however, counter that the maps are not intended to be a full
accounting of flood risk. Unlike First Street, a research and consulting group that offers climate -based risk
assessments to companies and governments, FEMA is charged with mapping and regulating flood zones for the
public.
First Street's model — which incorporates flooding from heavy rain as well as from small streams and tributaries —
finds roughly twice as many U.S. properties are at risk of a 1-in-loo-year flood compared with those that fall inside a
FEMA flood zone.
Many residents who suffered heavy flooding damage from Helene, including in Buncombe and Henderson counties
in North Carolina, did not have coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program for those damages, according
to an earlier Post analysis of FEMA data. The agency had just 949 active policies in Buncombe County when the
storm hit.
Many areas of western North Carolina affected by flooding had FEMA flood maps that were 12 to 15 years old,
according to Anna Weber, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. The maps covering
Asheville were last updated in 201o, according to FEMA data. The agency says it evaluates the maps every five years
and does not update them if the data still meets the standards of the program.
The amount of rainfall Helene brought to North Carolina was rarer than a 1-in-100-year event — meaning its full
devastation might not have been captured by either model. But experts say that the larger the flood zone, the more
residents may have been insured against the catastrophic damage the storm caused.
Blake Smith, whose home is in Bat Cave, N.C., in Henderson County, barely escaped with his life when a wall of
water and mud came crashing down around him in his river cabin last month. The 51-year-old found his home
demolished — entire walls ripped out, struts teetering over the rushing river below. His truck was crushed.
Smith had never heard of the National Flood Insurance Program. His cabin was 120 years old. "Everything is just
gone," he said.
The Post could not immediately confirm whether Smith's home, which is on the edge of the federally designated
Special Flood Hazard Area, was entirely in the zone.
Experts have long warned that FEMA's flood maps may be lagging behind the current science of flood risk. They do
not take into account flooding caused by heavy precipitation — which is expected to grow more intense as the Earth
warms — and look only at past flooding conditions, rather than future climate risk.
"It's like you're driving down the highway but you're only looking in the rearview mirror," Weber said.
3 of 5 10/14/24,7:08 AM
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/fema-flood-maps...
In Rutherford County, home to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, around 9 percent of properties have a high risk of
flooding under First Street's model compared with 1 percent that are in the federal flood zone.
Former and current agency officials say that regulations dictate what the flood maps take into account and aren't
intended to encapsulate all flood risks across the nation.
Luis Rodriguez, FEMA's engineering and modeling division director, said on a call with reporters Friday that
developing the maps is a "collaborative effort" that involves consultation with state and local officials.
"It takes a long time to go through the process that is required under the statute," he added.
Updating the maps isn't easy. Local officials often resist changes that show their areas more at risk, because the
designation comes with extra costs. Once an area is designated in the special flood zone, buildings have to follow
more stringent federal guidelines — for example, ground floors of homes have to be built over the estimated height
of a 1-in-ioo-year flood. The home insurance required for a mortgage can also cost homeowners thousands of
dollars per year.
Individual residents can appeal decisions placing them in the flood zone if they present new scientific evidence that
FEMA did not incorporate into its decision -making. The result can be a lengthy political battle.
Roy Wright, who directed the National Flood Insurance Program from 2015 until 2018, said in a phone interview
that designating special flood hazard zones can prove unpopular.
"If the area of concern shrinks, no one says `thank you,"' Wright said. "If the area grows, people send hate mail.
That's what happens."
After Superstorm Sandy, the agency proposed new maps for New York City that would have doubled the area under
the flood zone. The city appealed, arguing the agency had overstated the height of future storm surges and floods.
The resulting agreement saved New Yorkers tens of millions of dollars in insurance premiums, according to FEMA.
Experts say that even if the maps were originally intended for a more narrow purpose, they have become the way
that most Americans view their risk of flooding.
"They really became the nations de facto flood risk communication products," Kousky said in an email. "Residents
and communities really need information on how flood risk is changing in the coming years."
The agency and the country face difficult decisions. If the FEMA flood zone had covered more of the Appalachians
during Hurricane Helene, more homeowners would have been protected by flood insurance, reducing their reliance
on government aid and speeding their recovery.
That requirement, however, could also prove unaffordable for some of the poorest households. And without a
mandate, many Americans might still choose to opt out of flood insurance — even if they know they are vulnerable.
"Thev're usuallv choosing between a family vacation to Disnev World and an insurance product." Wright said. "And
4 of 5 10/14/24, 7:08 AM
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina, analysis ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/fema-flood-maps...
guess what wins?"
Many experts say that the entire system needs an overhaul to account for a new reality. "These strategies to protect
us from flooding are based in the past," Weber said. "All these systems that we rely on in our everyday lives were
created for a climate that no longer exists."
Brianna Sacks in Bat Cave, N.C., contributed to this report.
5 of 5 10/14/24, 7:08 AM
Advisory Message: AVOID Kuakini Hwy in Kailua-Kona for the next several hours due to
flooding. Some roads closed.
From: Hawaii Police Department (hawaii-police-department@emails.nixle.com)
To:
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 04:53 PM HST
Message sent via Nixie I Go to nixle.com I Unsubscribe
Tuesday September 17, 2024, 4:52 PM
Hawaii Police Department
committed to preserving the spirit of aloha
Advisory: AVOID Kuakini Hwy in Kailua-Kona for the next
several hours due to flooding. Some roads closed.
Dear Nixie User,
The Hawaii Police Department advises you to AVOID Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona
due to flooding. Heavy rain has created a large amount of water and debri to spill onto
the roadway on Kuakini Hwy near Alii Kai subdivision, and has closed Kuakini Hwy,
between Lunapule Road and Keakealani Drive, and will require a detour of traffic for
the next several hours. Drive with caution.
For full details, view this message on the web.
TEXT A -TIP
Text TIP HAWAIIPD followed by your message, to 888777 or Submit an anony.njQLgj
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Heavy rain in West Hawaii floods roads, washes trash, debris into ocean... https://bigislandnow.com/2024/09/18/heavy-rain-in-west-hawaii-floods...
kA
X,., ;
1�
Heavy
roads, washes trash,
ocean
By Tiffany DeMasters
September 18, 2024 - 3:09 PM HST
* Updated September 18, 2024 •3:18 PM
Early this morning, houseless individuals were seen on the shoreline along Ali`i Drive in
Kona fishing items, ranging from shopping carts to coolers, out of the ocean after
torrential flooding.
1 of 6 9/18/24, 3:42 PM
Heavy rain in West Hawaii floods roads, washes trash, debris into ocean... https://bigislandnow.com/2024/09/18/heavy-rain-in-west-hawaii-floods...
Heavy rain on Sept. 17, 2024, washed debris from a duct in Kona into the Pacific
Ocean off Ali`i Drive. Photo credit: Michael Kelly
2 of 6 9/18/24, 3:42 PM
Heavy rain in West Hawaii floods roads, washes trash, debris into ocean... https://bigislandnow.com/2024/09/18/heavy-rain-in-west-hawaii-floods...
Heavy rain hit North Kona and South Kona communities for several hours Tuesday
afternoon flooding portions of Hualalai Road, Kuakini Highway, Ali'i Drive and parking lots
throughout Kailua-Kona. Showers are again possible today in these areas, according to
the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Megan Whaley was leaving Papa Kona restaurant, located on Ali'i Drive, on Tuesday at
3:45 p.m. when the flooding started. She posted images on social media of debris,
including, storage bins, water bottles, couch cushions, a small bed frame and trash, that
washed into the ocean from a tunnel that empties into waters off the eatery, where a
homeless camp was established.
Whaley, who works at Papa Kona, saw people collecting items out of the water this
morning, but leaving the trash.
"Today, the water is dirty and still has rubbish all on the shoreline in front of Papa Kona
and some trash still floating," Whaley said this afternoon, adding it smells bad.
The Hawaii Department of Health had not issued any advisories for the water in the area.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu does have a small craft advisory for leeward
and southeast waters. the advisory is in place till 6 a.m. on Friday.
Kona resident Michael Kelly also captured images Tuesday while walking his dog Pepper.
He followed flooding from Ali'i Drive up to Hualalai Road to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints chapel, located at 75-230 Kalani St., above McDonald's.
Heavy rain on Sept. 17, 2024, washed, debris from a duct in Kona into the Pacific Ocean off Nil Drive. Photo credit:
MeW Whaley and Michate Mccru m
3 of 6 9/18/24, 3:42 PM