Governor's climate team calls for disaster funds, environmental restoration in new report

By Savannah Harriman-Pote for Hawaiʻi Public Radio

Gov. Josh Green convened a six-person climate advisory team last summer to research disaster policies and release a report with recommendations ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

Part of that research involved surveying 600 Hawaiʻi residents about how they see the risk of disaster.

About 70% of respondents felt something like the Lahaina wildfire could happen to their community. Only 39% thought their community was prepared for a natural disaster.

The report estimates that Hawaiʻi could see over $1 billion in property damage every year due to hurricanes, wildfires, floods and earthquakes.

Click here to read the article and listen to the recording aired on January 9.