Hazards, Climate, and Environment Program Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa FLASH FLOOD CONFERENCE SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, MARCH 2006 Making the Last Mile in Reaching 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 Islands 1959 – present Date DisasterAmount of Damage 10/2004Manoa Flooding>$120 million 11/2000 Hilo Flooding~$50 million 9/10-11/92 Hurricane Iniki$ 1.6 billion 11/23/83 Hurricane Iwa$239 million 1/8-10/80 Kona Storm$ 12.9 million 5/23/60tsunami$ 23 million 8/4-6/59Hurricane 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 mitigation planning is taking action to permanently reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from the damaging effects of natural hazards

Mitigation Planning is Easy but only if… You Have First Conducted a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Do you know...  what your most costly hazards are?hazards  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… 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 Partnership and 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