THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	163
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the Department of Accounting and General Services in coordination with the State Department of Defense Civil Defense Division to adopt rules to provide FOR a tsunami inundation zone building code and further requesting the governor and state agencies to provide for A SETBACK OF 500 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF A TSUNAMI INUNDATION ZONE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANY NON-MARITIME RELATED PUBLIC STRUCTURES AND STRUCTURES THAT CONTAIN HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii, as an island state, faces unique problems in dealing with natural disasters; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's densely populated and developed coastlines are at significant risk of inundation from a tsunami; and

     WHEREAS, to improve the State's disaster readiness, protect the safety of its citizens, and mitigate the potential damage caused by natural disasters, the government should take a multi-pronged approach to prepare for and respond to disasters; and

     WHEREAS a tsunami inundation zone is an area of expected tsunami inundation, based on scientific evidence that may include geologic field data and tsunami modeling; and

     WHEREAS, in early 2004, the State Civil Defense initiated multi-year contracts with the University of Hawaii and the Department of Land and Natural Resources to update tsunami evacuation maps using the latest two dimensional tsunami inundation modeling technology, targeting complex coastlines, bays, harbors, and marinas; and

     WHEREAS, there exists an immediate need to complete updating of tsunami inundation maps to take into account development that has taken place during the past several years to include provisions for evacuation to high-rise buildings as well as overland evacuation routes; and

     WHEREAS, the State should consider evacuation provisions when constructing, renting, leasing or purchasing buildings or facilities; and

     WHEREAS, buildings and persons located within a tsunami inundation zone are at an increased risk of damage and injury from a tsunami; and

     WHEREAS, state-owned buildings, particularly those facilities with critical functions, should not be situated within tsunami inundation zones if such localities are avoidable; and

     WHEREAS, certain structures are vulnerable to tsunamis, including public facilities such as: hospitals and other medical facilities; fire and police stations; emergency response vehicle garages; school, college, university buildings; jail and detention facilities; and non-public facilities such as: commercial, office, and industrial buildings that contain hazardous materials; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services in coordination with the State Department of Defense Civil Defense Division are requested to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to provide a building code for state-owned buildings, including but not limited to, non-maritime related public and non-public buildings and facilities in tsunami inundation zones; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the administration and all state agencies are requested not to construct or locate non-maritime related public buildings and facilities containing hazardous materials on state lands within 500 feet of the edge of a tsunami inundation zone; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor, the Department of Accounting and General Services, and the State Department of Defense Civil Defense Division.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Tsunami Inundation Zones; State Buildings