Representative Karen Awana wants the State Civil Defense to prepare a specific disaster plan for the Leeward side of Oahu.
But the State Department of Defense says that's unnecessary.
When accidents close Farrington Highway or when flooding and high surf threatens homes and beaches, Karen Awana says the Leeward coast of Oahu has no clear plan for action.
She says December 2007 was a prime example, when two dozen utility poles came crashing down on Farrington Highway. Then 45,000 customers were without power for several hours, even several days.
"Situations like this, that if we had a plan in place in advance we would be able to avoid all of these situation," said Awana.
She says House Bill 2692 will get that plan in place, requiring the director of Civil Defense to prepare a disaster plan specific for the 44th and 45th districts, from Nanakuli to Makaha.
"We're not getting the results we need to and our community needs to ask for what is our plan and how we can get this plan out," said Awana.
State Civil Defense says if Awana is calling for action by the state, she should also call out the City to do the same. In 2009, the state worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a catastrophic disaster plan for the island of Oahu. That includes the Leeward coast.
"But yet I have yet to know what the plan is and I'm sure many of the residents out here don't know what the plan is," said Awana.
The bill would look into the use of air and sea transportation when roads are closed and address the needs of homeless, something one Senate lawmaker supports.
"I don't think there's any part of the island that has the challenges that the leeward coast has," said Senator Colleen Hanabusa. "You would think given that we've experienced disaster preparedness not working, that they would be willing to address that for this particular area."
Hawaii Civil Defense says communities in every county of the state face challenges when disasters or emergencies strike. And it doesn't take a bill to have the state take action to address those concerns.
So far 11 House lawmakers support the bill, passing it through the Public Safety Committee un-amended.
