The Role of GIS in Emergency Management

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 countyHonolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaiidetermines 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 States Emergency Response Commission, which oversees the Hawaii State Civil Defense (HSCD) system.