Project Impact - Hawaii

Project Impact brings communities together to take actions that prepare for and protect themselves against natural disasters in a collaborative effort.

Mitigation Activities:

1. Identify and build partnerships with local businesses and agencies;
2. Complete a hazard mitigation survey and plan for the entire island;
3. Conduct a community disaster education and preparedness program.

Department of Water Supply

The Department of Water Supply is responsible for management, control and operation of the waterworks of the County and all property thereof. As a member of the Hawaii Drought Task Force, they have a responsibility to prepare for, mitigation and respond to drought in Hawaii.

Statewide Drought Mitigation Task Force

The Task Force is made up of state and county representatives. They will draft a statewide drought mitigation plan that will provide the public and state and local agencies with a clear description of the procedures and mechanisms used to monitor drought-related resources (before, during and after a drought), assess drought needs, define triggers that engage actions and mitigate drought impacts.

The task force members include: the Governors' Office Representative, State Department of Defense, Civil Defense and National Guard, State Department of Agriculture, the Four County government officials from the Water Departments, and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

In addition, the following federal agencies will participate as advisors to the state task force: National Weather Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Small Business Administration, US Forest Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Geological Survey (USGS),.and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Mitigation Activities:
They are responsible for monitoring water resource conditions, review forecasts and notify the public and task force members if drought conditions are expected in the future.

US Department of Agriculture

The USDA has many branches in their agency including:

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation - Provides individual farm producers with economic protection against crop disasters caused by conditions beyond their control.

Farmers Home Administration - Assists t farmers, ranchers, and agriculture operators to cover losses resulting from a natural disaster and return the operation to a financially sound position.

Natural Resources Conservation Service - Undertakes emergency watershed protection for runoff retardation and soil-erosion prevention to safeguard lives and property from flood, drought, and the products of erosion.

State Civil Defense

Responsibility of all disasters or major crises in the State of Hawaii begins at the county level. As the disaster or crisis develops, the Hawaii State Civil Defense System provides operational infrastructure and procedures to apply additional resources to meet the demands of the emergency from all appropriate levels of government.