Measure seek to bolster civil defense preparedness

Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) recently introduced a bill designed to strengthen civil defense preparedness in Hawaii and across the country.

Gabbard and Hanabusa said the Civil Defense Preparedness Act of 2018 would expand existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terrorism and catastrophic event grant programs to include improving nuclear, biological and chemical attack preparedness.

Officials said the grants would be used for training, protective equipment, building reinforcements, and other community preparedness measures.

In the wake of Hawaii’s false missile alert in January, Gabbard also authored legislation to improve accountability by ensuring transparent investigations and disclosure into the incident and establish best practices to strengthen state and national preparedness and disaster communications plans.

“The false ballistic missile alert sent out in Hawai‘i earlier this year, and the threat of nuclear attack from North Korea, reveal major gaps in preparedness measures and alert plans across all levels of our government,” Gabbard said. “Addressing this must be taken seriously and made a priority in Hawaii and across the country. My legislation provides the means to support state and local governments to make these critical investments for our communities.”

Hanabusa said the false ballistic missile alert revealed significant failures in preparations for a possible attack and a full, transparent accounting of what went wrong is being sought.

“This bipartisan bill will help prioritize Department of Homeland Security grant funding for communities that need to improve training, fortify or create shelter space and purchase new equipment,” she said. “Hawaii and many other municipalities around the country will benefit from increased access to federal funding to support community preparedness and response.”