The National Weather Service calls for warning on their Watches, Warnings and Advisories page for Hawaii. The message couldn’t be any clearer about preparedness for this weekend’s potential bad weather: ‘A powerful low pressure system is expected to move toward islands from the north over the weekend, bringing multiple weather hazards. While the details and... Continue Reading →
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that encourages communities (counties) to go above and beyond the minimum National Flood Insurance Program requirements for floodplain development and activities. Participation in the CRS is rewarded with flood insurance discounts for it’s policy holders. There are 10 CRS classes with class 10 being non... Continue Reading →
The heavy downpour that flooded Kauai in April of last year set a national record for the most rainfall in a 24-hour period. With 49.7 inches at Waipa Garden, Kauai set the new record on April 14 and 15, 2018. The previous record of 43 inches was set close to Alvin, Texas on July 25... Continue Reading →
Hawaii lawmakers will confront major policy questions this session as they grapple with looming problems from a warming planet, sea level rise and climate change in general. Rising seas and crumbling shorelines are staring lawmakers in the face as they consider more than a dozen bills dealing with climate change this session. Where should the... Continue Reading →
For our new blog segment, Throwback Thursday, what could be better than watching an informative video from a few years back, about the wet season here in Hawaii - and how to stay safe when experiencing flash flood or if you get caught outside during a storm. We don't have a cold season here in... Continue Reading →
Please join us at this years BIA Home Building and Remodeling Show at Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The show starts January 25 and ends January 27. Our DLNR Flood and Dam Section will be set up at booth #725, educating homeowners on their flood zone and flood risk. Stop by and say hi.
Congress must periodically renew the National Flood Insurance Program’s statutory authority to operate. On December 21, 2018, the President signed legislation passed by Congress that extends the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) authorization to May 31, 2019. NFIP re-authorization is an opportunity for Congress to take bold steps to reduce the complexity of the program... Continue Reading →
Wildfires change the landscape, destroying root structure and creating top soil that could repel water instead of absorbing it. Debris flows and mudflows can occur up to five years after a wildfire. Debris flows can take homes off their foundations and can carry things like vegetation, trees, large boulders and vehicles. Mudflows on the other... Continue Reading →
Why do insurance companies classify certain types of risk as uninsurable? And why do insurance regulators prohibit insurers from setting premiums that reflect risk, particularly in locales that repeatedly suffer losses from natural disasters? The short answer is that insurance today is misunderstood and hence is not effectively meeting its most important objectives—to inform those... Continue Reading →
