Hazards, Climate, and Environment Program

Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa

FLASH FLOOD CONFERENCEFLASH FLOOD CONFERENCESAN JOSE, COSTA RICASAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, 13-17 MARCH 2006, 13-17 MARCH 2006

Making the Last Mile in Making the Last Mile in Reaching the UsersReaching the Users

Cheryl L. Anderson, Director, Hazards, Climate & Environment Program

Journey in Risk Management

• All Hazards Approach• We are the Users• Disaster Risk

Management Process

Why Engage in a Disaster Risk Management

Process?• Reduce loss of life• Reduce costs associated with disaster and

from chronic hazards & repetitive loss• Maximize limited resources for research,

planning, mitigation, response

EXAMPLE:Costs of Disasters in

Hawaiian Islands1959 – present

Date Disaster Amount of Damage10/2004 Manoa Flooding >$120 million11/2000 Hilo Flooding ~$50 million9/10-11/92 Hurricane Iniki $ 1.6 billion11/23/83 Hurricane Iwa $239 million1/8-10/80 Kona Storm $ 12.9 million5/23/60 tsunami $ 23 million8/4-6/59 Hurricane Dot $ 6 million 4/1946 tsunami $ 26 million

And Loss of Life….Loss of Employment and Long-Term Economic Viability

*dollars given in the year damage occurred

Hazard Hazard mitigation mitigation planningplanning

is taking is taking action to action to

permanentlpermanently reduce or y reduce or

eliminate eliminate long-term long-term

risk to risk to people and people and

their their property property from the from the

damaging damaging effects of effects of

natural natural hazardshazards

Mitigation Planning is Mitigation Planning is EasyEasybut only if…but only if…

You Have First Conducted

a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Do you know...Do you know... what your most costly hazards are?

where your highest risk locations are?

which of your critical facilities are most vulnerable to hazards?

where your most vulnerable populations live?

how susceptible your local economy is to hazards?

what environmental resources are most at risk?

what your best opportunities are to mitigate future impacts from natural disasters?

Impacts from… StormsImpacts from… Storms

Droughts & Fires

Floods

Seismic Activities

Erosion

Waves & High Surf

Risk and Vulnerability Assessments: • Identify Multiple Hazard Risks

• Identify Critical Facilities & Infrastructure

• Identify other Critical Assets for Protection (Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural, Governmental)

• Identify gaps, synergy, and opportunities

Aerial Imagery

Elevation

Geodetic Control

Boundaries

Surface Waters

Transportation

Land Use

Special Flood Hazard Areas

Data Management: GIS Layers

Analysis and Modeling

Aerial Imagery

Structures

Critical Infrastructure

Repetitive Loss

Special Flood Hazard Areas

Kauai County Mitigation Process

• Critical Infrastructure – hardening & relocating, such as Waimea & Kapaa Fire Stations

• Building Codes - What does Kauai intend to do about new standards?

• Flood and Community Rating System (CRS)

• Land Use

County Culvert

State Culvert

Locating Populations at Risk

• Isolated Populations• People Living in Poor Conditions• People on the Fringe of Society• Special Needs

Gender and Society in Hawai‘i

• Food Insecurity: Hawaiian female single-headed households with children highest insecurity and at greatest health risk

• Occupations – Hawaii has slightly more women in the labor force than US average; women earned $.82/$1.00 earned by men; women are in fewer managerial positions than US average; HI established a Pay Equity Task Force

• Households – female-headed 12.4% of households representing 20.6% of those below poverty line; w/children under 5,poverty is 37.4%

Recognize Unique Geographies and Environments

RVA Requires Partnershipand Collaboration

RVA Establishes a Process for Disaster Risk Management

• Builds Coordinating Mechanisms among Agencies and Organizations

• Establishes Baseline Information and Incorporates New Technologies

• Manages Critical Data• Incorporates Multiple Perspectives,

Needs, and Vulnerabilities• Provides a Trusted Network for

Hazard Mitigation Planning & Implementation