REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO IDENTIFY EXISTING LARGE TREES ALONG EVACUATION ROUTES AND TRIM, SPRAY, OR REMOVE TREES HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO OBSTRUCT THE EVACUATION ROUTE; CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR SPECIFIC HIGH-RISK TREES; IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES IN URBAN FORESTRY; AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 4 co-sponsors

SR 184 enhances Hawaii's disaster preparedness by ensuring clear evacuation routes through tree management, risk assessments, and community engagement initiatives.

Report and Resolution Adopted. Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa).

#dot #disasterpreparedness #evacuationroutes #hiema #largetrees #obstructions

Bill Overview

Bill Number: SR 184
Title: Requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to Identify Existing Large Trees Along Evacuation Routes and Trim, Spray, or Remove Trees Having the Potential to Obstruct the Evacuation Route; Conduct Comprehensive Risk Assessments for Specific High-Risk Trees; Implement Best Practices in Urban Forestry; and Strengthen Community-Based Disaster Preparedness Initiatives.
Status: Report and Resolution Adopted
Introduced: March 07, 2025
Classification: Resolution
Subject: DOT, Disaster Preparedness, Evacuation Routes, HIEMA, Large Trees, Obstructions

Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of SR 184 is to enhance disaster preparedness in Hawaii by ensuring that evacuation routes are safe and unobstructed. The resolution calls for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to take proactive measures regarding large trees that may pose risks during emergencies, particularly in the context of natural disasters.

Key Provisions

The resolution outlines several specific actions for HIEMA:

Identification of Large Trees:

Locate existing large trees along designated evacuation routes that could potentially obstruct safe passage during emergencies.

Tree Management:

Implement measures to trim, spray, or remove trees identified as hazards to ensure clear evacuation routes.

Risk Assessments:

Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for specific high-risk trees to evaluate their potential impact on evacuation safety.

Urban Forestry Best Practices:

Adopt and implement best practices in urban forestry to promote healthier tree management and reduce risks associated with large trees.

Community-Based Initiatives:

Strengthen community-based disaster preparedness initiatives to enhance local readiness and response capabilities.

Impact

The resolution is expected to have a significant impact on public safety and disaster preparedness in Hawaii. By addressing the risks posed by large trees along evacuation routes, the bill aims to:

Improve the safety of evacuation routes during emergencies.

Reduce the likelihood of obstructions that could hinder timely evacuations.

Foster community engagement in disaster preparedness efforts.

Legislative Actions and Timeline

March 07, 2025: Bill offered.

March 12, 2025: Referred to the Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Committee (PSM).

March 21, 2025: Public hearing scheduled for March 24, 2025.

March 24, 2025: PSM committee recommended the measure be passed, unamended.

April 01, 2025: Reported from PSM with a recommendation for adoption.

April 02, 2025: Resolution adopted with one dissenting vote from Senator Awa.

Related Bills

SCR 209: This bill serves as a companion to SR 184, indicating a broader legislative effort to address similar issues.

This resolution represents a proactive step towards ensuring that Hawaii's communities are better prepared for emergencies, particularly in relation to the management of natural resources that could impact public safety.

Bill