Risk
About Droughts
What are my risks?
Mitigation
What can I do at
home?
What can I
do at work?
Local Mitigation
Activities
Preparation
Are you prepared?
Weather Advisories
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What can I do at work?
Droughts
can impact an island over the long term, rather than immediately.
This provides
the opportunity for businesses to make adjustments in procedures
to conserve water. For some types of business, these steps are critical
in reducing financial losses throughout the drought.
It is important
that business owners take proactive steps to protect their business,
because they are a vital part of the community.
The Small
Business Administration (SBA) and the Institute
for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) suggest that small
business owners develop a Disaster Plan that includes mitigation
activities. These activities are divided into the following categories:
Links
for additional information are provided at the end of this page.
Facilities
(Buildings & Equipment)
- Check water supply
system for leaks.
- Turn off any unnecessary
flows.
- Repair dripping faucets,
showers and continuously running or leaking toilets.
- Install faucet aerators
where possible.
- Reduce the load on
air conditioning units by shutting off air conditioning when and
where it is not needed.
- Reduce toilet water
by adjusting flush valves or installing dams and flapper mechanisms.
- As appliances or
fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving models.
- Shut off water supply
to equipment rooms not in use.
- Minimize the water
used in cooling equipment in accordance with manufacturers recommendations.
Shut off cooling units when not needed.
- Install an efficient
irrigation system.
Operations
CAFETERIA AREA
- Turn off the continuous
flow used to clean the drain trays.
- Turn dishwasher off
when not in use. Wash full loads only.
- Use water from steam
tables to wash down cooking area.
- Do not use running
water to melt ice or frozen foods.
- Use water-conserving
ice makers.
LANDSCAPING
/ EXTERIOR AREAS
- Inventory outdoor
water use for landscaped areas.
- Water landscapes
only when needed. Two-to-three times a week is usually sufficient.
- Water in the early
morning or evening.
- Make sure that water
does not run into the streets or alleys.
- Stop hosing down
sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots.
- Use time controllers
on sprinkler systems.
- Do not water on windy
days
- Xeriscape by planting
foliage that does not require a lot of water and by using other
natural landscaping, such as decorative stones and rocks.
- Support water reclamation
initiatives, particularly for irrigation, including the use of
reclaimed, water from municipal, industrial, agricultural and
other available sources, where practical.
- Consider using "greywater"
- Consider water recycling.
Wastewater is cleaned for reclamation and reuse using constructed
wetlands, and a greenhouse containing soil filters and an aquatic
ecosystem.
MONITORING
- When cleaning with
water is necessary, use budgeted amounts.
- Determine the quantity
and purpose of water being used.
- Read water meter
weekly to monitor success of water conservation efforts. Harvest
rainwater for landscape use
- Assign an employee
to monitor water use and waste.
- Seek employee suggestions
on water conservation; locate suggestion boxes in prominent areas.
- Determine other methods
of water conservation.
Critical
Information and Communication
- Increase employee
awareness of water conservation.
- Install signs encouraging
water conservation in employee and customer restrooms.
Insurance
- Purchase crop
insurance. The Federal Crop Insurance protects farmers or
ranchers from unexpected production losses from natural causes,
including drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, flooding, hurricanes,
tornados, and lightning. It does not cover losses resulting from
neglect, poor farming practices, theft, or low prices.
Hawaii's
USDA's Farm Service Agency provides information on farm loans,
conservation techniques, environmental practices, emergency assistance,
and domestic and international food assistance programs. Click
here for more information or, contact them on Oahu at: (808)
483-8600 Ext. 2.
- Emergency
Conservation Program (ECP) ECP shares with agricultural
producers the cost of rehabilitating eligible farmlands damaged
by natural disaster. During severe drought, ECP also provides
emergency water assistance - both for livestock and for existing
irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards.
ECP may be made available in areas without regard to a Presidential
or Secretarial emergency disaster designation.
- Noninsured
Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) NAP is for crops
for which crop insurance is not available. It provides assistance
for farmers who grow such crops, limiting their losses from natural
disaster and helping to manage their overall business risk.
- Emergency
Loans. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides low-interest
EM loan assistance to eligible farmers to help cover production
and physical losses in counties declared as disaster areas by
the President or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. The
FSA Administrator may also authorize EM loan assistance to cover
physical losses only.
- Disaster
Assistance Programs are also offered by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for individuals as well as public assistance
programs that helps state and local governments.
For
more information you can visit the following websites:
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