The Role of GIS in Emergency Management

Abstract

The primary government agency for disaster response in the State of Hawaii is the Oahu Civil Defense Agency (OCDA), a department in the City and County of Honolulu. The Mayor acts as the CEO of OCDA and has the power to declare a disaster. Disasters are county specific. Each county—Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii—determines what constitutes a disaster. For example, the island of Hawaii may have volcanic eruptions listed as natural disasters, whereas Honolulu would not. Disasters also can be localized to certain areas within a county and designated to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which is part of the City and County of Honolulu, as opposed to the State’s Emergency Response Commission, which oversees the Hawaii State Civil Defense (HSCD) system.</br> The state’s primary responsibility is to provide leadership in rapid assistance during a disaster, with a full range of resources and effective partnerships. All city departments follow the directives outlined in the City and County of Honolulu’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Once the EOP draft for a specific emergency is approved by the mayor and city council, all county departments and coordinating county agencies adopt and follow the plan. Most of Oahu’s medical centers play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response. In particular, Queen’s Medical Center (QMC), with its 560 beds, is the largest and oldest hospital and main trauma center in Hawaii. QMC is instrumental in coordinating disaster response, and it plays an active role in Honolulu’s Disaster Committee.</br>