Lt. Governor Urges Hurricane Preparedness

"The destruction caused by the recent cyclone in Myanmar has brought into sharper focus the real threat that hurricanes pose to our islands," Lt. Governor Aiona said during a news conference held at the National Weather Service office on the University of Hawai`i at Manoa campus. "But this important reminder is all for nothing if we can't translate those images of long lines at grocery stores and empty shelves at home supply warehouses into individuals taking personal responsibility and developing their own hurricane plan."

Hurricanes have cost the State of Hawai`i more money than any other natural disaster. Since 1959, 63 hurricanes, 67 tropical storms and 63 tropical depressions have occurred in the central Pacific. Though Hawai`i has not suffered a direct hit since Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which produced winds in excess of 130 miles per hour and left a trail of devastation in its wake, the Lingle-Aiona Administration believes residents must be prepared for the fact that storms will strike Hawai`i again in the future.

NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu expects three to four tropical cyclones in the central Pacific in 2008, which is down from four to five tropical cyclones seen in a typical year.

The Lt. Governor is urging residents to prepare or update their family disaster plans. Residents should know their home's vulnerabilities and determine escape routes and meeting places, Lt. Governor Aiona said.

The Lt. Governor also encouraged residents to participate in a new program to replenish food items in their disaster preparedness kits. Starting June 1, residents can help feed the hungry by donating canned foods from last year's hurricane supply kits to the Hawai`i Foodbank.

"The people of Hawai`i have always shown an incredible willingness to take responsibility not only for themselves, but for the well-being of others," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "Helping to feed hungry families with food items we recycle out of our hurricane survival kits is another way to get involved to uplift others and create a better Hawai`i."

The Hawai`i Foodbank has arranged to collect the canned food donations at any one of the 27 KFC Hawai`i restaurants on O`ahu, Maui, Kaua`i and the Big Island.

"We're proud to support the Hawai`i Foodbank and the Lt. Governor's office with raising awareness of the importance of recycling food from hurricane kits," said Steve Johnson, general manager, KFC Hawai`i. "We're making all of our restaurants available to collect the canned foods because we wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to donate."

Hawai`i's hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

To help raise greater awareness about the need to prepare for the hurricane season, Governor Lingle and Lt. Governor Aiona declared May 18-24, 2008 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Hawai`i.