Maui County Civil Defense

The Maui Civil Defense Agency has responsibility for administering and operating the various local, state, and Federal civil defense programs for the County. This includes planning, preparing, and coordinating civil defense operations in meeting disaster situations and coordinating post-disaster recovery operations.

Project Impact - Maui

In April 1999 FEMA welcomes the County of Maui, to the agency's Project Impact initiative - a national effort to change the way America deals with disasters. The program encourages communities to come together, assess their vulnerabilities and implement strategies to prevent or limit damage before disasters occur. Three common-sense principles are the basis of Project Impact: mitigation at the local-community level; participation by the private sector; and long-term preventive measures.

Mayor's Office

The Mayor's Office is involved with the following earthquake mitigation activities:

• Developing a Disaster and Hazard Mitigation Strategy for the County of Maui to reduce and prevent large loss of life and property in the event of a natural disaster. They hired a consultant that analyzed the natural hazards that Maui County has faced and determining the impact these natural hazards will have on social, economic and environmental profiles within the County.
• Continuing to retrofit/renovation for seismic protection

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 State Civil Defense System provides the operational infrastructure and procedures to apply additional resources to meet the demands of the emergency from all appropriate levels of government.

Mitigation Activities:

1. Local adoption of Seismic Zone 2B Building Code Upgrade
2. Securing propane tanks at essential facilities against seismic hazards
3. Public Awareness Program - Videotape on Volcanic and Seismic Hazards

Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes

The Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV) is located on the Big Island of Hawai'i, and operates out of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. CSAV is a training and outreach program established by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1989.

Mitigation Activities:

1. Conducts public symposiums at the University of Hawaii at Hilo to discuss impacts of natural hazards, mitigation measures, and policy/warning systems.
2. Plans symposia for teachers for credit.
3. Conducts presentations to 4th and 6th grade classes and community associations on earthquake preparedness.
4. Producing a 20 minute videotape about volcanic and seismic hazards affecting the island of Hawaii, and how homeowners can protect their homes and themselves. The videotape was distributed to community associations, public and private schools libraries, county offices, and video stores.