Commerce Dept Gives $1M for Hawaii Disaster Preparedness

The Commerce Department on Friday announced a $1.3 million grant to the State of Hawaii’s Civil Defense Division to help upgrade the state’s disaster preparedness system, including a system of tsunami warning sirens.

“This $1.3 million Economic Development Administration investment is an example of the Obama administration’s commitment to ensuring our homes and businesses are protected during natural disasters,” Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank said in a press release. “The grant announced today will help Hawaii put in place a new warning system that will enable the state to minimize loss of life and economic activity in the wake of a disaster, and assure that normal quality-of-life and business activity are able to resume as quickly as possible.”

The funds will pay for the replacement of 10 sirens and provide six new ones to the islands of Oahu and Hawaii.

— Michael Levine