GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $750,000 FOR SEISMIC MITIGATION STUDY FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS STATEWIDE

For Immediate Release:  February 27, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $750,000 to the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) to conduct a seismic mitigation study for the 12 public hospitals managed by HHSC statewide.

The October 15, 2006 Kīholo Bay Earthquake affected several HHSC facilities, but primarily Kona Community Hospital and Hale Ho‘ola Hāmākua on the Big Island. While no major structural damage was reported at these hospitals, there were incidents of cracked walls and windows, falling light fixtures, ceiling tiles, ceiling grids and air-conditioning ducts, and displaced equipment and supplies. This study will identify and implement corrective measures to prevent these same occurrences from happening in future earthquakes.

“Hospitals need to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies,” said Governor Lingle. “This study will help to ensure that our public hospitals remain safe and operational during and after an earthquake so that doctors and staff can continue to care for patients in critical times of need.”

The mitigation study is scheduled to be completed in September 2008, and the design phase is scheduled to be completed by September 2009.

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For more information, contact:

Tom Driskill
President, HHSC
Phone: (808) 733-4151

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043