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.

Mitigation Activities: State Civil Defense is a member of the Hawaii Drought Council which developed the Hawaii Drought Plan.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources,Division of Forestry and Wildlife

DLNR has the authority under Chapter 185, Hawaii Revised Statures, Land Fire Protection Law, for the prevention, presuppression, and suppression of wildfires for forest reserves, public hunting areas, and natural area reserves. It also has the authority to cooperate with established fire control agencies for the protection of other wildlands not with the department's protection areas.

Mitigation Activities: They contribute to mitigation efforts by keeping a fire database. They also created a Fire Management Map that delineates agencies responsibility in certain areas around the islands.

Hawaii Drought Council

The Hawaii Drought Council is the steering group that oversees the implementation of drought related activities in the State of Hawaii. The Council consists of department heads of the key state drought response agencies consisting of the Department of Agriculture (co-chair), the Department of Land and Natural Resources (co-chair), the State Civil Defense, a representative from the Governor's Office and four (4) County Officials designated by the Mayors. In addition, ex-officio members participate in the Council activities as advisors. They include the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and the East Maui Irrigation Co., Ltd.

The Hawaii Drought Council has prepared Phase I of the Hawaii Drought Plan to improve and better coordinate drought managment strategies for the State of Hawaii. The plan outlines mitigation measures and appropriate response actions during periods of drought to reduce and minimize the effects upon the people and natural resources of Hawaii.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The USDA has many branches in their agency including:

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

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

Soil Conservation Services - to undertake emergency watershed protection for runoff retardation and soil-erosion prevention to safeguard lives and property from flood, drought, and the products of erosion.