Also during this period, damaging floods have occurred and wildland fires have been a constant threat since 1991. During the past seven years, Kauai County has been extremely active in implementing mitigation measures such as retrofitting essential facilities, hardening of public buildings for emergency shelters, and public awareness programs. For taking these disaster prevention actions, Kauai was asked to participate as a Project Impact community. The Governor said Kauai was also chosen for its existing network of private and public sector partnerships with The Kauai Economic Development Board, Contractors' Association of Kauai, Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, Pacific Disaster Center, University of Hawaii, Kauai Community College, American Red Cross, Hotel Association of Kauai and the Structural Engineers of Hawaii. Hawaii and Kauai County are proud to be part of the Project Impact movement.
Disaster prevention is so important.
That's why we need to ensure that our communities' new buildings and new growth avoid the vicious disaster cycle of damage-repair. Through Project Impact, Hawaii is working to change how it deals with disasters and thus save lives and reduce the effects of disasters in the future. Project Impact is a national disaster prevention initiative developed in partnership with states and FEMA, encouraging communities to assess their risks from natural hazards and to implement strategies and actions that will limit damage before disasters strike again. Kauai County is the third county in Hawaii invited to participate in the initiative as a Project Impact community. The first pilot community in Hawaii was the County of Hawaii, and the second was the County of Maui.