Kaua‘i County adopts first-ever framework to guide disaster recovery, redevelopment

Kaua‘i County and University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, also known as Hawai‘i Sea Grant, have developed a framework aimed at helping Kauaʻi’s communities prepare more effectively and, in turn, better support recovery following natural disasters.

The framework also includes building back safer and more resilient communities.

The resulting written guidelines for disaster recovery operations — developed throughout a 2-year process — were formally adopted in September by Kaua‘i County Council.

“This framework represents the power of preparation and collaboration,” said Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami in a county release about the new framework. “When disaster strikes, recovery does not begin with the first response. It begins with the relationships, planning and trust we built long before.”

The “County of Kauaʻi Pre-Disaster Recovery Framework” was developed to guide disaster recovery operations after the next disaster.

Its creation was guided by the Kaua‘i County Recovery Working Group and Stakeholder Advisory Group, comprised of representatives from more than 40 departments and organizations led by Kaua‘i County Office of the Mayor, Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, Kauaʻi County Planning Department and Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development,

“This effort has been monumental for our island’s ability to recover in a more efficient, equitable and resilient way,” said Kauaʻi coastal land use extension specialist with Hawai‘i Sea Grant Ruby Pap, who led the project, in the release.

Before the new pre-disaster recovery framework was completed, the county only had a framework for disaster response.

“But we know that recovery issues are vast, cut across jurisdictional and agency lines and can take months to years to resolve” Pap said, adding it established recovery management organization with clear responsibility for county, state and nonprofits involved in recovery efforts. “It will help to facilitate better working relationships within the recovery community, better relationships between government and communities, more resilient rebuilding and will result in a more holistic view of disaster recovery.”

Preparing in advance for disaster recovery is critical, and this is the first set of written guidelines in Kauaʻi developed to guide the actions and decision-making for recovery and redevelopment post disaster.

The guidelines recognize that effective disaster recovery requires the entire community to be involved, including numerous state and local governments, utilities, nonprofit organizations and community members.

For example, Anahola nonprofit community-based organization ʻĀina Alliance conducted disaster recovery community visioning exercises with the Anahola community as part of this project, culminating in the “Building Back Better: Pre-disaster Framework for Anahola, Kauaʻi” report.

Their process can serve as a model for other Kauaʻi communities to follow.

Kaua‘i has experienced devastating islandwide tropical cyclones, wildfires, flooding, high surf and wave events. With the changing climate, the risk of natural disasters is increasing.

Visit the Kaua‘i Emergency Management website for additional information and to view the report.