CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ARE SUDDEN, MAN-MADE OR NATURAL INCIDENTS THAT CAUSE WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION, AND IN SOME CASES, LOSS OF LIFE.

WE'RE STILL IN THE GRIPS OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND HAWAI'I IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO NATURAL DISASTERS INCLUDING HURRICANES, TSUNAMIS, EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

SO WHEN THE NEXT CATASTROPHIC EVENT HITS THE STATE, WILL WE BE READY?

WE'LL TALK WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE LEADERS TO SEE HOW HAWAI'I IS PREPARING.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

>>Lara: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M LARA YAMADA.

IN MODERN HISTORY, HAWAI'I HAS LIVED THROUGH ITS SHARE OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS; THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, THE 1946 TSUNAMI, HURRICANE INIKI AND SEVERAL KILAUEA ERUPTIONS.

MORE RECENTLY, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPOSED THE STATE TO VARIOUS WEAKNESSES.

AND WHILE WE'VE DODGED SOME VERY CLOSE CALLS, WE'VE SEEN THE DESTRUCTION THAT CAN BEEN CAUSED BY HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING.

MOST CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE, SO IS THE STATE READY TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THE NEXT DISASTER HITS?

WE'LL ASK OUR PANEL TONIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

LUKE MEYERS IS A CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MANAGER WHO IS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HAWAI'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OR HI-EMA.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I WITH A DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY.

IN HIS SPARE TIME HE ENJOYS RUNNING, WATER SPORTS AND WEATHER WATCHING.

HIROKAZU TOIYA IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND A MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE.

HE'S LIVED THROUGH REAL WORLD CATASTROPIC INCIDENTS, INCLUDING BEING AN EVACUEE DURING HURRICANE KATRINA.

MATTHEW GONSER SERVES AS THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER AND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY'S OFFICE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY.

PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT, HE WAS THE CITY'S COASTAL AND WATER PROGRAM MANAGER.

AND DIANE PETERS-NGUYEN IS THE REGIONAL CEO FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

IN ADDITION TO DISASTER RESPONSE, THE NON-PROFIT FOCUSES ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND TRAINING FOR HAWAI'I STUDENTS.

THE KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS GRADUATE HAS A DEGREE IN FRENCH AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

NO DOUBT ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY NOT ONLY THROUGH THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED ALL YEAR LONG BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

LUKE, TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

HAS IT BEEN AN EYEOPENING EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS?

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

FROM AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL, AS A HUSBAND AND FATHER LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC, I WOULD CONSIDER COVID-19 UNPRECEDENTED.

WE'VE HEARD THAT WORD A LOT.

MANY HAVE SEEN LOTS OF EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS, BUT FOR ONE THAT NOT ONLY IMPACTS HAWAI'I, THE PACIFIC, UNITED STATES AND THE GLOBE ALL AT THE SAME TIME FOR 14 OR 15 MONTHS, IT'S REALLY BEEN AN EYEOPENING EXPERIENCE AND HAS REALLY CHALLENGED A LOT OF OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES WHEN WE LOOK AT EMERGENCIES.

I THINK THE OTHER BIG ELEMENT HAS SHOWN THE RESILIENCY OF NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD.

BEING AN INCIDENT KIND OF LIKE GROUNDHOG'S DAY.

YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND YOU HAVE THE SAME CHALLENGES AND SAME RESOURCES.

YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT WITH OTHER REAL WORLD SITUATIONS.

>>Lara: YEAH.

AND HIROKAZU, WE WERE TAKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SESSIONS WE HAD BEFORE WHAT'S CALLED CYCLE OF DISASTER AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

IT DOESN'T FOLLOW A TYPICAL CYCLE.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF COVID-19?

>> GOOD EVENING, LARA.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

COVID'S BEEN UNIQUE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT'S NOT A PHYSICAL DISASTER.

IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT ONE COUNTY, ONE STATE OR ONE COUNTRY.

IT'S AFFECTED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT IT.

IT BRINGS TO LIGHT WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE WHOLE OPPORTUNITY.

CAN'T JUST BE ABOUT A GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.

IT'S BROUGHT TO LIGHT DURING THE PAST 15 MONTHS OR HOWEVER LONG WE'VE BEEN IN THIS, IS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T BE THE ONLY SOLUTION.

WE ARE CERTAINLY PART OF IT, AND WE HAVE A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY, BUT REALLY TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF LIMITATIONS THAT GOVERNMENT HAS IN TERMS OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, POLICIES, AUTHORITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THE SPEED AT WHICH GOVERNMENT CAN MOVE ISN'T ALWAYS THAT FAST.

WITH COVID, WE HAVE THIS HUGE INJECTION OF FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT ALLOWED US TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, BUT THAT'S UNIQUE TO COVID.

WITH MOST DISASTERS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE FEDERAL FUNDS IMMEDIATELY.

IT BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE FACT THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE OF ANY TYPE TAKE A WHOLE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN JUST GOVERNMENT BEING THE ANSWER.

>>Lara: DIANE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, FROM YOUR LENS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST VULNERABILITIES THAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED FOR THE STATE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK AS HIRO MENTIONED, THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, PARTNERSHIP FOR US AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WITH OUR ONLY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WITH CORPORATIONS, BUSINESSES INDIVIDUALS, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, REALLY, THERE ARE SO MANY.

I WAS BRAND NEW.

HERE COMES HURRICANE DOUGLAS BARRELING DOWN TOWARDS THE ISLANDS.

A CATEGORY FOUR TYPE HURRICANE TWO WEEKS INTO THE JOB.

A LITTLE BIT LIKE DRINKING OUT OF A FIRE HOSE.

FOR LOCAL RED CROSS HERE, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO PUT INTO PLACE SOME OF THESE PROTOCOLS THAT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED NATIONALLY IN TERMS OF REALLY RETOOLING ALL OF THE PROCEDURES.

SO FROM DOING THE HEALTH SCREENINGS AS PEOPLE WOULD COME INTO THE SHELTER TO PREPARE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN THE SHELTERS.

HAVING PPE, MASKS, HAVING A PLACE FOR THEM TO QUARANTINE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES, OUR VOLUNTEERS, 90% ARE STANDBY VOLUNTEERS.

OLDER AGE DEMOGRAPHIC.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TIME TO VOLUNTEER.

WE HAD TO SCRAMBLE.

WE CONTINUED TO REACH OUT AND FOCUS MUCH MORE ON RECRUITING THE YOUNGER WORKERS FOR OUR SHELTER WORKERS AND DEVELOP THAT AS WELL.

>>Lara: THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF A CATASTROPHE OR EXTREME SITUATION BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HELP IN THE WAY AND COORDINATE IN A WAY THAT YOU HAVE FOR OTHER TYPES OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

HOW UNUSUAL KNOWING THAT YOU CAN'T GATHER.

YOU CAN'T COME WITHIN CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONTACT.

THERE'S MORE VULNERABILITY FOR OLDER VOLUNTEERS, WHO ARE OFTENTIMES WITHIN THE RANKS IN LARGE NUMBERS.

>> LARA, I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE WAY THAT THE NATIONAL RED CROSS DOES THING IS USUALLY SEND A WHOLE TEAM IN.

50 PEOPLE.

OUR LOCAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE OFTEN BEING TAKING CARE OF THEIR HOME FAMILIES.

FOR HURRICANE DOUGLAS, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.

IF THEY SENT 50 PEOPLE, THOSE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THEIR HOTELS.

WE HAD LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AS BEST WE COULD.

AND MANAGEMENT WAS A NEW MODEL.

REMOTE IN USING TEAMS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MENTORING AND COACHING.

THAT WAS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

>>Lara: DEFINITELY SOME OF THESE ANSWERS.

WE'LL MOVE AWAY FROM COVID.

I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU, MATTHEW.

LISTENING TO SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SPEAK AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT HAS BEEN, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VULNERABILITIES EXPOSED OR LESSONS LEARNED.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS HOPING TO TALK ABOUT, IS THE LESSONS.

FROM WHAT LUKE SHARED IN TERMS OF THE TERM RESILIENCE, IT'S NOT SOME KIND OF END STATE.

IT'S ABOUT LEARNING FROM THINGS THAT WE ARE BETTER POSITIONED MOVING FORWARD.

AND UNIQUENESS OF THE COVID DISASTER AND PANDEMIC RELATIVE TO A HAZARD EVENT HAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HARD, HARD COMMUNITY LESSONS THAT WE NEED TO CARRY FORWARD TO TRANSFORM AND BENEFIT COMMUNITY ISLANDWIDE.

HIGHLIGHTED EXISTING INEQUITIES.

THAT WOULD CHALLENGE OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS LIKE A HURRICANE OR SOME OTHER NATURAL HAZARD EVENT.

IF WE DON'T TAKE THOSE TO HEART AND LEARN ABOUT THESE NEW PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED OR POTENTIALLY STRAIN THROUGH COVID RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

HIRO ALLUDED TO THE SPEED AND THE CONSTRAINTS SOMETIMES WITH GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PARTNERS LIKE RED CROSS AND IMPORTANT TO HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO BE THE COMMUNITY BASED HUBS AND TO BE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS IF WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE WE CAN CONNECT ON RESOURCES.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY CRITICAL.

AFTER A HAZARD EVENT, THERE'S USUALLY AFTER ACTION REPORT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO WRITE THAT IN TERMS OF THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.

WE'RE STILL IN IT.

THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE OF LESSONS THAT I THINK ISLANDWIDE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY EXPECTING SOME TRANSFORMATION MOVING FORWARD AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION.

>>Lara: THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT ABOUT THE REPORT.

YOU EXPECT THINGS TO END IN A SENSE AT A CERTAIN TIME SO YOU CAN ASSESS.

WHEN IT KEEPS DRAGGING ON.

WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED AND HOW IT APPLIES TO WORK YOU DO.

WITH THIS BEING START OF HURRICANE SEASON, AND AS DIANE HAD BEEN STARTING TO TALK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH US DODGING A BULLET WITH HURRICANE DOUGLAS.

IF THE STATE IS READY TO RESPOND IF WE WERE TO GET A DIRECT HIT, WE DON'T KNOW HOW SOON THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE.

MAYBE WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO LUKE AND GET YOUR RESPONSE FIRST.

>> YEAH.

FROM A PREPAREDNESS PERSPECTIVE WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS WITH DOUGLAS.

WE HAD A LOT OF PEERS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES HIT WITH MULTIPLE HURRICANES.

FROM LESSONS LEARNED FROM SHELTERS.

ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO COME TOGETHER, IN A HURRICANE SITUATION SOMEONE MAY HAVE TO EVACUATED THEIR HOME AND COME TOGETHER.

WE DID HAVE SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM HURRICANE DOUGLAS AND SOME OF THE HURRICANES ON THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

I THINK THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE JUST HAVE LEARNED, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HURRICANE SEASON IS IT DOESN'T TAKE A DIRECT HIT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE A CATEGORY 3 STORM.

MANY OF THE STORMS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE STATE HAVE NOT BEEN GREATER THAN A CATEGORY 1.

AND THEY HAVE NOT MADE DIRECT HITS.

WITH HURRICANE LANE AND LIKE DIANE, I WAS ON THE JOB A WEEK WHEN HURRICANE LANE WAS APPROACHING US.

>>Lara: I THINK WE HAVE A PICTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A GRAPHIC OF HURRICANE LANE.

CONTINUE.

>> VERY IMPRESSIVE.

WITH THAT STORM, WE HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT A LANDFALL ON OAHU OR THE OTHER ISLAND, BUT IN HURRICANE LANE, IT NEVER DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE ISLANDS.

IT DROPPED 25 INCHES OF RAIN.

AND THE FLOODING THAT WE SAW AND THE LANDSLIDE AS A PRODUCT OF THAT STORM, THAT WAS A BIG LESSON.

WITH MANY OF OUR TROPICAL SYSTEMS, WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE A LANDSLIDE.

WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO FOCUS ON THE TRACK OF THE STORM BEHIND THE STORM.

BE PREPARED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT IMPACTS.

THAT WAS THE BIG LESSON IN HOW WE WOULD PREPARE FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON.

OTHER BIG CHANGE IS WE HAVE THE SAFE TRAVELS AND QUARANTINE IN PLACE.

FORTUNATELY LAST SUMMER, WE HAD A LOT OF EMPTY HOTELS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY VISITORS.

THIS SUMMER, WE'RE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT DYNAMIC.

OUR BASELINE COMMUNITY PROFILE, 30,000 VISITORS A DAY COMING INTO THE STATE.

WE HAVE SOME HOTELS THAT ARE OPEN.

SOME OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

WE HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT DYNAMIC.

THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE THINGS AS WE PREPARE WITH THE RED CROSS, THE COUNTIES AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR WHATEVER MAY COME OUR WAY.

>>Lara: I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE I CAN OPEN THIS TO ANY ONE OF YOU AS WE GET INTO HURRICANE SEASON.

WHO KNOWS -- DIANE, AND FEEL FREE ANY OF YOU IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

WHEN WE'RE HEADING INTO THE SEASON, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, AS LUKE MENTIONED, HOW WE REACTED AND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS FAR AS THE STATE BEING PREPARED?

THE STATE AND/OR REGION, I SHOULD SAY, BEING PREPARED AND WHETHER IT'S A DIRECT HIT OR NOT?

>> WELL, AND I THINK LUKE'S POINT WAS RIGHT ON, SPOT-ON.

IT DOESN'T TAKE A DIRECT HIT.

LOOK AT LAST YEAR BEING THE WORST DISASTER YEAR ON RECORD WITH 22 EVENTS, DISASTERS COSTING EACH OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

I THINK IT ONLY TAKE ONE AND DOESN'T EVEN TAKE A DIRECT HIT.

WE LIKE TO SAY BE RED CROSS READY.

IT MEANS BE AWARE.

EXPECT THESE THINGS.

GENERAL FOR ALL KINDS OF DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES.

RED CROSS LIKE TO SAY HAVE A PLAN, MAKE A KIT, BE INFORMED.

THERE'S LOTS OF LITTLE THING THAT FACTOR INTO THAT.

I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES JUMP IN, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED AND SERIOUS ABOUT.

>> IF I COULD JUMP IN.

DEFINITELY WANT TO BUILD ON WHAT LUKE AND DIANE SAID.

FOR US, HAWAI'I'S -- I THINK VIEWERS CAN APPRECIATE WE'RE UNIQUE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

ABOUT 2400 MILES AWAY FROM CONTINENTAL U.S.

WHEN A HAZARD IS HEADING OUR WAY, WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

RESOURCES ON ISLAND, WE MAY BE ABLE TO BRING ADDITIONAL HELP BUT POSSIBLY NOT.

ANY SUBSTANTIAL WAY, AND LIKE DIANE ALLUDED TO, SINCE 1980, THERE'S BEEN 285 DISASTERS THAT'S COST A BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE.

AND 119 HAVE BEEN SINCE 2010.

YOU CONTRIBUTE THAT PARTLY TO MIGRATION AND TOWNS BEING BUILT UP.

KAUAI HAD HURRICANE INIKI.

BESIDES COVID, OAHU HASN'T REALLY HAD A CATASTROPHIC PHYSICAL DISASTER THAT'S IMPACTED US.

LUKE WAS TALKING ABOUT HURRICANE LANE.

NOT MAKING DIRECT IMPACT, DUMPED A FEW INCHES OF RAIN ON BIG ISLAND.

WE HAD CONSULTANTS DO ANALYSIS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HURRICANE LANE IF THAT LEFT TURN THAT IT MADE, AND AFTER IT IMPACTED US.

WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THAT SCENARIO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HURRICANE LANE IMPACTED OAHU AS A CATEGORY 1 STORM.

PROJECTED TO COST US $3.7 BILLION IN BUILDING LOSSES.

HAD IT BEEN A CAT 2, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TENS OF MILLIONS.

IT'S JUST BUILDING LOSSES.

HARD TO QUANTIFY THE POTENTIAL LOSSES WE MIGHT SEE.

IN TERMS OF PREPAREDNESS, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PREPARE FOR.

LIKE DIANE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE PREPAREDNESS MESSAGE.

IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE ABOUT GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION.

IT'S GOT TO BE INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES AND PROTECT THEMSELVES BETTER.

DURING COVID, A LOT OF OUR FOCUS WAS DIVERTED IN THAT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME WORK IN TERMS OF ASSESSING THE SHELTER FACILITIES.

WE HAVE A LOT BETTER IDEA OF WHICH FACILITIES ARE SAFER FOR US TO USE DURING A TROPICAL CYCLONE EVENT.

USING A MORE RECENT ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDINGS.

PRIMARILY D.O.E.

SCHOOLS.

FOR OAHU WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

DEFINITELY A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY GET FACILITIES READY BUT RESPONSE SIDE READY, PEOPLE READY, SYSTEMS READY.

I WANT EMPHASIZE THE PREPAREDNESS.

>>Lara: TOM ON OAHU ASKING, MY FAMILY LIVES IN A WOODEN HOME IN OAHU.

WE WOULD NEED A SAFE CONCRETE SHELTER TO GO TO.

OF 15 SHELTERS ON OAHU, NONE IS RATED SAFE FOR CATEGORY ONE SPEED.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HIS OPTIONS ARE DURING A STORM STRONGER THAN CATEGORY ONE STRENGTH.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE?

>> GOOD POINT THERE.

THE MOST OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE ARE SHELTERS.

WE CALL THEM SHELTERS BUT REALLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS FROM FEMA AND STATE STANDARDS.

WHAT WE HAVE AREN'T REALLY SHELTERS.

WE CALL THEM BEST AVAILABLE REFUGE AREAS.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A SINGLE WALL CONSTRUCTION HOME OR FLOOD PRONE AREA.

WE ARE CHOOSING THE BEST FACILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

AND HI-EMA CONTINUES TO DO RETROFITS TO BUILDINGS TO MAKE IT STRONGER.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU HAVE AMONG YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHOSE HOMES ARE BUILT A LITTLE BIT STRONGER.

SOMETHING NOT A SINGLE WALL CONSTRUCTION HOME.

MAYBE THEY HAVE A LITTLE WINDOW PROTECTION.

SOMETHING YOU GOT TO WORK OUT AHEAD OF TIME.

YOU DON'T WANT TO, SURPRISE HELP, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HURRICANE.

CAN I CRASH AT YOUR PLACE?

SO REALLY, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.

REALITY IS THAT OUR PUBLIC REFUGE AREAS OR SHELTER SPACES ARE MEANT TO BE LAST RESORT.

>>Lara: LUKE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- TOM, AS FAR AS WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, WHAT'S BEING LOOKED AT?

WHAT HE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

HE'S CONCERNED THERE AREN'T PLACES THAT HE WOULD BE SAFE ENOUGH.

>> YES.

TO ECHO -- IT'S A GREAT QUESTION FOR ANY FAMILY IN THE ISLANDS WHEN YOU HAVE A STORM APPROACHING.

KNOW YOUR HAZARD.

KNOW HOW STRONG YOUR HOME IS.

WHAT TYPE OF IMPACTS, WHETHER IT'S FLOOD, LANDSLIDE, WIND, EVEN FIRE.

IN 2018 WE HAD FIRES DURING TROPICAL SYSTEMS APPROACHING THE ISLANDS.

TO REINFORCE WHAT HIRO WAS SAYING, OUR SHELTERS ARE SHELTERS OF LAST RESORT.

IF YOU KNOW A FAMILY OR FRIEND WITH A STRONGER STRUCTURE, TAKE THAT ON BEFOREHAND.

TAKE REFUGE WITH THEM IF YOUR HOUSE IS NOT SAFE.

AND, DEPENDING ON WHAT COUNTY, ARE THEY WALKABLE DISTANCE?

DO YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO IT?

WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BRING TO THE SHELTER?

YOU HAVE THOSE ITEMS THAT FROM DIANE'S SIDE AND HIRO'S SIDE AND OTHERS, THAT ONE, KNOWING IS YOUR HOUSE GOING TO BE SAFE?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BRING IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOME?

>>Lara: LET'S SHIFT TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

MATTHEW, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WOULD YOU POINT OUT AS FAR AS THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO PEOPLE HERE IN HAWAI'I?

WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE'RE HERE MOSTLY TO TALK ABOUT HAZARDS AND EVENTS AND HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS INCREASING SOME OF THOSE RISKS.

WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S DOING AND INCREASING THOSE RISKS AND DRIVING CLIMATE CHANGE.

GAS EMISSIONS.

I'M PLEASED AND EXCITED JUST YESTERDAY, CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED HONOLULU'S FIRST CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH CHARTS OUR PATH TO REDUCING AND ELIMINATING GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION SO WE CAN NOT ONLY MAKE A WHOLE SLEW OF ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS BUT STAVE OFF THE WORSE OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT.

WE HAVE AN UNDERGOING STRATEGY.

CLIMATE READY OAHU.org.

AND IN THAT FIRST PHASE, WE LOOKED AT FIVE TOP CLIMATE HAZARDS OF CONCERN.

IN TALKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TALKING WITH SCIENTISTS AND LOOKING AT THE LITERATURE, RISK IS A FUNCTION OF LIKELIHOOD AND CONSEQUENCE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HURRICANES WHICH CLEARLY ARE THIS TRIPLE THREAT.

HUGE CATASTROPHIC POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT LIKELIHOOD AND CONSEQUENCE, THESE CHANGING BASELINES OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND INCREASING TEMPERATURES.

THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO PREPARE FOR.

SCIENCE IS CLEAR-EYED ABOUT INCREASING TRENDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE WORK THAT AGENCIES LIKE RED CROSS, HI-EMA DO, WE NEED TO GET PROACTIVE AND PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE FUTURE.

WILL PROVIDE SOME BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY CONDITIONS, WHETHER IT'S AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE OR MORE FORESTRY AND TREES TO HELP MANAGE RAINFALL AND MANAGE HEAT.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THOSE OTHER HAZARDS AREN'T OF CONCERN.

WE KNOW THE SCIENCE TELLS US WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY A HURRICANE NOT BECAUSE MORE STORMS BEING GENERATED, BUT BECAUSE WITH INCREASING OCEAN TEMPERATURES, STORM TRACKS ARE ACTUALLY MIGRATING NORTHWARDS.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE PATH THERE.

AS YOU POINTED TO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST AND PREDICT SOMETHING LIKE A RAIN BOMB, WHICH WE SAW IN 2018 IN EAST HONOLULU.

THINKING ABOUT IMPACT TO COMMUNITY.

ISLANDWIDE IT WAS NOT A BIG EVENT.

IF YOU'RE A WAIMANALO RESIDENT OR AINA HAINA RESIDENT, IT WAS CATASTROPHIC.

THINKING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PREPAREDNESS FROM GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION TODAY, COMMUNITY ALSO SUPPORTING AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR CHANGE.

WHEN CHANGE IS COMING TO YOUR SHORELINE, DOING NOTHING ISN'T AN OPTION.

SOME THINGS WILL REQUIRE UPFRONT INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BENEFITS AND REDUCED RISK IN THE FUTURE.

>>Lara: TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE.

MATTHEW, GETTING A LARGER MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE THE POLITICIANS AND DECISION-MAKERS AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO UNDERSTAND AND CONNECT TO THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE NOW.

WITH AT LEAST IN PAST YEARS NO DOUBT, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FEELING THE URGENCY OF.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE TO YOU IN SHOWING PEOPLE, EXPLAIN, GETTING THEM MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON THEIR LIVES AND WHY ACTION IS NEEDED?

>> I THINK THE RESIDENTS GET IT.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEIR ACUTE AWARENESS AND OBSERVATION OVER TIME.

VOTERS ELECTED TO CREATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCY.

ONE OF THE MOST CLEAR PIECES OF EVIDENCE IS COASTAL EROSION AND SHORELINE CHANGE.

WHETHER IT'S THE NORTH SHORE, WEST SIDE, IMPACTS TO AREAS LIKE MAPUNAPUNA.

GRANTED, SOME OF THESE ARE ENGINEERED SYSTEM OR WERE BUILT ON LANDFALL HISTORICALLY.

PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BUSINESS DISRUPTIONS.

AND HOPE TO HAVE BEACHES INTO THE FUTURE.

AND REAL LIFE SAFETY RISK TO CERTAIN STRUCTURES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL RESIDING.

WHEN THE SHORELINE USED TO BE DOZENS TO TENS TO A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET FURTHER INTO THE OCEAN THAN WE EXPERIENCE IT TODAY, THAT'S A REAL DIFFICULT THING TO COME TO TERMS WITH AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE SOME CHOICES.

IF WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISKS AND TRADEOFF, WE MIGHT LOCK OURSELVES INTO FUTURES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THINGS LIKE SANDY SHORELINE BECAUSE WE'VE ELECTED TO WALL OFF THE OCEAN.

>>Lara: I WANT TO GET BACK TO TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

SINCE WE'RE ON THIS TRACK, ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS.

WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

I THINK THIS INVOLVES A NUMBER OF YOU.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT KNOWING WHAT THE DISASTERS, IMPACT THEY'RE HAVING.

CLIMATE CHANGE EXACERBATING THAT.

KNOWING STORM ARE GETTING STRONGER.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT?

WHAT SHOULD BE CHANGING AS FAR AS DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL DANGER ZONES?

MAYBE HIRO.

ALSO TO YOU, LUKE.

DO YOU WANT TO START?

GO AHEAD, HIRO.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO MAP.

FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OUR KULEANA IS IN THE CONSEQUENCE MANAGE.

AND LOOKING AT HAZARD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE DO KEEP A HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, WHICH DOES RELAY TO THE WORK THAT MATTHEW'S OFFICE DOES.

ONE OF OUR PRIORITY ACTIONS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY NEED TO DO IS LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE ZONING AND BUILDING CODE UPDATES SO WE CAN BE READY.

IN ADDITION, LOOKING AT OTHER MORE CONCRETE PROJECTS.

THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT THE FLOOD CONTROL FOR THE ALA WAI CANAL, FOR INSTANCE.

GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FINANCIALLY.

THESE ARE GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE GRANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DEFINITELY GOT OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOME GOOD HAZARD MITIGATION WORK IN TERMS OF POLICY AND PROJECTS.

>>Lara: MATTHEW, THIS IS IN YOUR AREA, BUT LUKE, IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN.

WHAT'S WITHIN YOUR SCOPE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT THE AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED OR BEING DEVELOPED.

WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE AS FAR AS HOW IT'S CHANGING?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?

>> SIMILAR TO HIRO, WE HAVE A STATEWIDE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

WE WORK WITH ALL THE COUNTIES AND FEMA IN TRYING TO BRING PRE-DISASTER AND POST-DISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION DOLLARS.

TWO OF THE STRONGEST FORMS OF MITIGATION IS LAND USE AND BUILDING CODE.

THEY SET THE BLUE PRINT FOR, AS MATT WAS SAYING, WHERE YOU WANT TO GO 5, 10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

WITH HURRICANE AND FLOODINGS EVEN MARCH 2021, WITH 20 INCHES OF RAIN ON THE NORTH SHORE OF OAHU IN 24 HOURS.

THAT EXPOSED EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

HERE WE ARE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, WE'VE GOTTEN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, WE'VE TRIED A NUMBER OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT AND BRING THINGS IN, BUT THE HARD WORK STARTS WHEN THE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

LOOK HOW LONG IT TAKE TO REINVENT WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE.

EQUITY TIED TO THAT.

RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH FEMA AND LARGE HAZARD MITIGATION FUNDING PACKAGES ARE COMING DOWN.

FEMA HAVE TWO BIG AREAS THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

INFRASTRUCTURE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHO'S BEING SERVED BY THOSE.

WE HAVE A LOT IN THIS COUNTRY IN COASTAL AREAS.

EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE AN INCIDENT, IT IS VERY HARD TO CHANGE EXISTING LAND USE AND BUILDING CODE.

WHEN WE HAVE THE NEXT BIG INCIDENT.

THAT'S THE IDEA TO SAY, DO WE HAVE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED INFRASTRUCTURE?

ON A MORE LONG TERM TRACK AS INFRASTRUCTURE GOES IN, AND THIS GOES TO SOME THINGS MATT IS LOOKING AT AND THE OTHER COUNTIES, HOW DO WE REBUILD?

SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT ARMORING THE COAST LINE?

WE HAVE CHANGE?

THE BASELINE HAZARDS WE HAVE TO BE ADJUSTABLE.

WE WORK WITH THE COUNTIES, BUT IT'S A DECADE OLD PROCESS.

THAT'S THE STRONGEST CAPABILITY.

>>Lara: MATT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK AND INITIATIVES THAT HAPPEN NOW THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND SUPPORTING?

POLITICAL LEADERS NEED TO BE GETTING BEHIND?

>> I'LL DOUBLE DOWN ON WHAT LUKE AND HIRO SAID IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THIS COMMUNITY VISION?

WE DO HAVE A HIERARCHY IN TRYING TO THINK ABOUT FACILITATING COMMUNITY CHANGE FROM OUR OAHU GENERAL PLAN TO EIGHT REGIONAL COMMUNITY PLANS.

IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE PRIMARY URBAN CENTER FROM KAHALA THROUGH PEARL CITY OR NORTH SHORE, KAENA TO KAHUKU ALMOST, THOSE ARE TWO REGIONS ON THIS ISLAND CURRENTLY GOING UPDATES.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SURVEYS TO THINK ABOUT, ENGAGE WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

EVERYONE IS GRAPPLING THINGS WITH THIS.

AS WE INVESTIGATE, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO PEOPLE ALL AROUND THIS ISLAND WILL COME ACROSS THOSE DIFFICULT DECISION OF WHERE WILL WE BE CHALLENGED AS FAR AS MAINTAINING OUR STUFF?

WHERE CAN WE POTENTIALLY FACILITATE LAND USE CHANGE, GROWTH OR REDEVELOPMENT TO TALK THOSE LIFE AND SAFETY MEASURES TO HELP GET PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

WILL PEOPLE SEE IT AS THEIR COMMUNITY?

IT CAN BE VERY JARRING TO VIEW EVERYTHING OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR.

ERRUPTION IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT, AND KAUA'I COUNTY, AS THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT BUYOUT PROGRAMS AND THE STRAIN THAT CAN PUT ON A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY, NOT JUST TO GET THROUGH AN EVENT, BUT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF MY COMMUNITY WERE TO CHANGE?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ME?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE ESTABLISHED?

THESE AREN'T EASY THINGS TO DO.

HUGE SYMPATHY AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH THE ECONOMIC STRAINS TODAY OR CONCERNS OF CLIMATE CHANGE INTO THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE MAINTENANCE OF A THRIVING ISLAND COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

>>Lara: SO MANY DIFFERENT LAYERS TO CONSIDER.

SHIFT BACK TO NATURAL DISASTERS THAT ARE EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

DIANE, YOU WERE AT THE HEART OF THIS WHEN THESE DISASTERS HAPPEN.

AND ALL YOUR VOLUNTEERS.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORKERS, YOUR VOLUNTEERS MANNING EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

SUPPLIES NEEDED.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS.

>> SURE.

LARA, BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE FOR A SECOND.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I SALUTE THE CITY FOR TAKING THIS IMPORTANT STEP.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE RED CROSS NOW NATIONALLY HAS TAKEN THIS TO HEART.

WE HAVE NOW A CHIEF ADVERSITY OFFICER THAT'S GOING TO OVERSEE WHAT THE RED CROSS DOES AND RAISE AWARENESS.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

LOOKING AT OUR FRUIT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S CRITICAL.

AND I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OAHU.

TALKING ABOUT HAWAI'I, BUT THE RED CROSS, OUR PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION INCLUDES THE U.S.

TERRITORIES BEING THE PACIFIC.

OFFICES IN AMERICAN SAMOA AND GUAM AND MARIANAS.

ISLAND STATES THEY ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THIS FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING, AS MENTIONED EARLY, SEA LEVEL RISE, IT'S NOT 50 YEARS AWAY.

IT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT HAWAI'I, AS WELL.

BECAUSE IF THOSE PLACES BECOME UNLIVEABLE, THEY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE.

WE'RE ALL CONNECTED.

CONNECTED BY THIS OCEAN.

IT'S SAD, FOR ME AS I LOVE THE OCEAN, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK DOWN AND SEE THAT THE CORAL IS BEING BLEACHED AND DIFFERENCE IN THE WATER.

IT FEELS WARMER.

THAT'S SCARY.

BUT BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PREPAREDNESS, LUKE WAS SAYING WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BRING?

SO WE KNOW THAT WHAT OUR SHELTERS ARE VERY MINIMAL.

IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO BE IN A SAFER PLACE AND CANNOT SHELTER AT HOME.

BRING WITH THEM KITS.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, MEDICATIONS BUT ALSO THEIR SUPPLIES AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

TWO WEEKS.

RECOMMENDATION IS TWO WEEKS OF FOOD.

TWO WEEKS OF WATER AS WELL YOUR MEDICATIONS.

IF YOU HAVE A PET.

YOU SHOULD CHECK FIRST AND SEE WHETHER A SHELTER IS PET-FRIENDLY.

IF IT IS, YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR PET IN A CARRIER AND BRING THE PET'S FOOD AND WATER AND IF THE PET HAS MEDICATION.

THOSE ARE LOTS OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE UNDER STRESS AND PRESSURE.

IF YOU HAVE SPACE IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU CAN ASSEMBLE THOSE TOGETHER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN AROUND AND GRAB THEM.

FOR OTHER TYPES OF DISASTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A TSUNAMI ALERT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIME.

YOU DON'T HAVE DAYS.

IT MIGHT BE A MATTER OF HOURS.

YOU HAVE TO GRAB YOUR THINGS AND GET TO HIGHER GROUND.

HAVE A PLAN.

MAKE A KIT AND MONITOR THE MEDIA.

>>Lara: DIANE, IN CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME A SAFER ENVIRONMENT AS MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE MOST CERTAINLY DEALING WITH IT.

THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER VARIANT.

PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE INTO THESE CONSIDERATIONS THEY MAY HAVE TO FACTOR INTO WHAT HAPPENS.

IF A NATURAL DISASTER HAPPENS.

IF WE GATHERING IN A PARTICULAR AREA.

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS PANDEMIC?

>> THE RED CROSS HAS ANNOUNCED A RETURN TO CONGREGATE SHELTERS VERSUS NONCONGREGATE.

HERE IN HAWAI'I, WE WOULD SAY THAT YOU'RE STILL ABIDING BY CDC GUIDELINES FOR COVID.

WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE BRING THEIR MASK AND WEAR THEM INSIDE THE SHELTERS.

WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE FOR ENOUGH SPACE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.

HEALTH SCREENING TYPE THINGS AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

WE MIGHT WANT TO BRING YOUR PROOF OF VACCINATION WITH YOU.

THAT SAID, WE WILL NOT TURN PEOPLE AWAY REGARDLESS OF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS.

>>Lara: AND LUKE AND HIRO, IN THIS CONTEXT, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HERE, WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON.

WITH THE -- AT ANY POINT OF TIME, STILL HAVING TO KEEP THESE CONSIDERATIONS AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

THAT EXTRA LAYER OF COMPLICATION.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO GET ACROSS?

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW?

WHAT ELSE IN THE PRIMARY DISCUSSIONS YOU'RE HAVING THAT NEEDS TO BE FACTORED INTO THE STRATEGIES AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON?

RELATED TO COVID AS WELL.

>> FROM THE STATE'S PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE A SIX-STEP CALL TO ACTION FROM THE PUBLIC.

BOTTOM LINE IS THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THE HAZARDS WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

WHETHER IT'S A TSUNAMI OR HURRICANE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS IN THE STATE THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL.

99% OF THE TIME.

VERY QUICKLY AND THOSE TRANQUIL CONDITIONS CAN TURN TREACHEROUS.

KNOWING WHERE YOUR HAZARDS ARE.

OTHER BIG MESSAGE FOR ANY DISASTER INCLUDING HURRICANE, HIRO, AND EACH OF THE COUNTIES HAVE A COUNTY ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

WE CHALLENGE THE PUBLIC TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE ALERTS.

AS DIANE MENTIONED, TRUST IN THE MEDIA.

TRUSTING LOCAL OFFICIALS TO TELL YOU WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BAD.

SIGN UP FOR THOSE.

THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE STATE'S PERSPECTIVE IS, WE'VE UNCOVERED THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOOD INSECURITY.

COVID HAS EXPOSED A LOT OF THINGS.

I THINK MATT TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

IT EXPOSES YOUR COMMUNITY PROFILE.

AND THOUGH WE HAVE A SENSE OF RESILIENCY IN THIS STATE, WE'VE SEEN FOOD DRIVES.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF IMPACTS FROM COVID IN THE LAST YEAR.

THOSE CONDITIONS.

HAVEN'T WENT AWAY.

WHETHER IT'S 20 INCHES OF RAIN IN MARCH OR IT'S THE NEXT DISASTER, WE HAVE THAT FUNDAMENTAL COMMUNITY PROFILE NOW.

WE KNOW FROM A CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE TO ANTICIPATE A LOT OF NEEDS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND RED CROSS AND COUNTIES AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO BRING IN RESOURCES.

TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE MORE NEEDS NOW THAN WE'VE HAD IN THIS STATE.

AND SO WITH ANY FUTURE DISASTER IN THE COMING YEAR OR SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGE TO TACKLE.

>>Lara: AND HIRO, I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND ROBERT FROM WAIKIKI ADDRESSING WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, LUKE.

QUESTION OR STATEMENT SAYING WHAT IS THE PLAN OF GETTING FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO HAWAI'I IN A MAJOR DISASTER?

TO YOUR POINT, PEOPLE HAVING THESE CONCERNS AND INSECURITIES.

HIRO, NO DOUBT THIS IS PART OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

>> FOR OAHU, WE'VE GOT A MILLION RESIDENTS.

PRE-PANDEMIC FOR HONOLULU, 40% HAVE INCOME CONSTRAIN AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT NUMBER IS NOW.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITORS TO OAHU.

NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY MORE THAN WHAT WE HAD.

WE HAD EXPECT A LOT MORE THIS HURRICANE SEASON THAN LAST YEAR.

STILL, A LOT OF CHALLENGES REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT EXISTED PRE-PANDEMIC.

SO CERTAINLY HAVE TO PUT THAT IN OUR PLANNING.

IN TERMS OF HOW TO POSTURE YOURSELF FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT YOU MIGHT NEED TO EVACUATE?

I TOUCHED ON EARLIER THE RESTRAINTS WE HAVE.

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE EVENT WE HAVE TO EVACUATE A LARGE PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE REALITY.

WE'LL DO THE BEST, BUT COVID IS STILL AROUND.

FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED, REALLY, I URGE YOU.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT COVID DURING THE MIDDLE OF A DISASTER.

YOU MAY BE HUDDLED CLOSE TOGETHER WITH A BUNCH OF STRANGERS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO LIMIT YOUR EVACUATION OPTIONS.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID OF COVID SO YOU ARE GOING TO PUT YOURSELF IN HARM'S WAY.

LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE DEALING WITH IN THE AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER IS GETTING SICK FROM COVID.

I DO WANT TO TOUCH ABOUT THE QUESTION THAT CAME IN REGARDING THE FOOD SITUATION.

LUKE'S TEAM DID SOME GOOD RESEARCH AND EXPOSED A LOT OF THE VULNERABILITIES.

I DON'T WANT TO STEAL HIS THUNDER, BUT THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR DISRUPTIONS TO OUR TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S LAND, SEA OR AIR.

WE COULD ANTICIPATE A HUGE SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION.

PRE-PANDEMIC, WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT OUR SUPPLY CHAIN.

WE COULD HAVE A CYBER INCIDENT THAT INTERRUPTS OUR SUPPLY CHAINS.

NOT ONLY HURRICANES.

WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR LIVES GETTING BADLY DISRUPTED.

THAT COULD TRIGGER A CASCADE OF FACTS WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES WITH FUEL IMPORTATION.

IF IT'S A PHYSICAL DISASTER, UTILITIES COULD GET DISRUPTED.

AND CONSEQUENCE TO ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING IS THAT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COULD GO DOWN.

WE COULD BASICALLY LOSE ACCESS TO NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD AND MEDICATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

LOCAL COMMERCE WOULD STOP.

SHORT TERM WITH LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

WE GOT A MILLION PEOPLE HERE WITH EXISTING CHALLENGES.

WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO PREPARE.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

WHAT LUKE WAS TALKING ABOUT, A LOT OF THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO SEEMS DAUNTING.

TAKE SMALL STEPS NOW TO BETTER PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

>>Lara: WE NEED TO BE AWARE THIS IS A SITUATION I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO HELP?

KNOWING THESE ARE CONCERNS.

>> WORK GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO 2017.

THERE WERE SOME WORK DONE BY HI-EMA AND LOOKING AT HURRICANE IN PUERTO RICO AND SEEING SIMILAR TYPE OF SCENARIO WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE IS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED, AND YOU HAVE TO BRING IN RESOURCES.

FOR PUERTO RICO, RESOURCES WERE NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR HAWAI'I, WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO SEE WHERE THE WALMARTS, COSTCO, WHEREVER IT MAY BE, THERE'S NO MILK.

WE HAVE A SYSTEM APPROACHING.

TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES AND WORKING WITH FEMA AND OTHER RESOURCES IN TRYING TO BRING ITEMS IN.

THE BIG LESSON THAT WAS SHARED THROUGH THE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IS IF THE PORT OF HONOLULU, IF WE GO DOWN HERE, WE'VE SEEN THIS DURING COVID, COMMODITIES GO TO THE PORTS, AND THEY GO TO THE OUTER ISLANDS.

TROPICAL SYSTEMS, THEY COME FROM THE EAST TO WEST.

WE CAN START SEEING OUR PORTS SHUT DOWN FOR A WEEK.

AND A STORM NOT EVEN MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT LIKE HURRICANE LANE.

BIG MESSAGE THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS IS WE CAN'T REBUILD A PORT OVERNIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO ALONG AT OTHER LONG-TERM OPTIONS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WORKING GROUPS THAT INCLUDE FEDERAL, STATE AND PRIVATE PARTNERS.

THIS IS WHERE THERE'S MANY MORE IN THE PUBLIC.

CHALLENGE FOR THEM IS TRY TO HAVE AS MANY RESOURCES AND ITEMS IN YOUR KIT THAT ARE NONPERISHABLE THAT CAN GET YOU UP TO 14 DAYS.

>>Lara: WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LEFT.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT TO A COUPLE THINGS, AND IF WE COULD KEEP ANSWERS BRIEF ON THIS.

AS FAR AS FUNDING, HOW IS EVERYBODY FEELING NOW?

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE AS FAR AS HAVING THE RESOURCES AND THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AGAIN AS WE HIT THIS HURRICANE SEASON?

>> I'LL START FROM THE NATIONAL PICTURE.

HISTORICALLY, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AFTER AN EVENT, PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.

THIS IN ITSELF FOR THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

THEY'RE UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION PROVIDING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION FUNDING THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED BRICK.

THIS WAS $500 MILLION, THIS MOST RECENT ROUND.

COMING UP, IT WILL BE A BILLION DOLLARS.

THEY RECOGNIZE WE CAN'T HEMORRHAGE FUNDS.

SO COMMUNITIES ARE PREPARED AND THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DISCUSSIONS, 365 DAYS A YEAR AND NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT A HURRICANE SEASON.

KNOWLEDGE CAN BE A BURDEN, AND IT CAN FEEL DAUNTING, BUT INFORMATION IS ALSO EMPOWERMENT.

MORE WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, MORE WE HAVE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER IT'S CLIMATE, COVID OR HAZARD MITIGATION.

THE MORE WE LEARN TOGETHER AND BETTER PREPARED WE ARE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

>> DIANE, NOT ONLY BUT FUNDING FROM A FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT LOOKING AT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE RED CROSS IS INVOLVED IN.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH FOLKS AS FAR AS HOW THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED?

>> REFERRING TO PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS FROM COVID?

>>Lara: DISASTERS, AS A WHOLE, WHETHER IT BE COVID ON WHEN WE HAVE THIS IMPACTING YOUR FAMILY.

>> SURE.

AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE RISE IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THE RED CROSS TAKES THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE HAVE A HUGE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT, DURING ANY DISASTER, FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON MENTAL HEALTH OF THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WE'RE SERVING.

IT STARTS WITH SELF-CARE AND MAKING GOOD DECISIONS.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

IT'S HARD.

AS MY COLLEGES HAVE MENTIONED, THE STRESS, ECONOMIC STRESS SPEAKING OF OUR ORGANIZATION, WE'RE ALWAYS IN A FUNDRAISING MODE.

WE RELY ON THE PUBLIC TO HELP FUND US.

DONOR COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S NONSTOP.

WE NEED HELP ALL THE TIME.

AND VOLUNTEERS.

WE WANT TO GET THE CALL.

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

RED CROSS.org/HAWAI'I.

FIND OUT HOW TO VOLUNTEER.

>>Lara: NO DOUBT IF WE HAD MORE TIME, I'D BEFORE ASKING ALL OF YOU.

AN HOUR GOES VERY FAST.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS - HI-EMA ADMINISTRATOR, LUKE MEYERS; HONOLULU EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR HIROKAZU TOIYA; HONOLULU CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER MATTHEW GONSER AND DIANE PETERS-NGUYEN, PAFICIC ISLANDS REGIONAL CEO FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

>>> NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, AS VACCINATION RATES ACROSS THE STATE SLOW DOWN, ARE WE STILL ON TRACK TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY?

WE'LL GET THE LATEST PROGRESS REPORT FROM HEALTH EXPERTS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LARA YAMADA FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

A HUI HOU.