LIHU’E – Kaua`i County civil defense administrator Mark Marshall appeared before the County Council Wednsday and talked about a possible shelter shortage if a future hurricane doesn’t turn away like the late, unlamented Daniel recently did. “There are 14 active
LIHU’E – Kaua`i County civil defense administrator Mark Marshall appeared before the County Council Wednsday and talked about a possible shelter shortage if a future hurricane doesn’t turn away like the late, unlamented Daniel recently did.
“There are 14 active shelters right now. Capacity currently is 19,343 spaces. Population (of the island) is 55,000 residents, and there are 15,000 to 20,000 tourists” on any given day, he said.
If every person on the island needed shelter, according to Marshall’s figures, three out of four couldn’t get in.
“The picture isn’t actually as bleak as it looks,” Marshall said yesterday, expanding on Wednesday’s comments to the council. “The hospital can shelter all of its patients and the military takes care of its own. We have no food for the shelters, but many of the hotels have told their guests to take their blankets and pillows” (when going to a shelter.
Marshall added that things aren’t much different than when Hurricane Iniki struck in 1992.
“Most people sheltered in place or went with friends. Most of our sheltering capacities were filled by tourists,” he said.
There is some small capacity improvement coming, though.
“Real soon, we’ll have the hardening complete on the War Memorial, and that’s 2,000 more” shelter spaces, Marshall said.
He noted that 10 square feet per person is neeeded for adequate sheltering.
Daniel’s erratic run at the Hawaiian Islands last month was Marshall’s first real crisis since becoming Kauai’s civil defense honcho.
“It was a veritable rollercoaster of emotions,” Marshall told the council.
He also noted that he worried about the “cry wolf” syndrome, pointing out that Maui officials suspended school and government work and then ended up with a “clear-view, sunny day.” But despite that, Marshall said he would have done the same thing, citing the wisdom of “better safe than sorry.” Marshall also commented on another stressor in his new job: Weather’s unpredictability.
The National Weather Service has about 80 percent accuracy in predicting the weather.
“That leaves me 20 percent,” which was more of an unknown, he said, than he was comfortable with.
Marshall also apologized for comments he made in an article in The Garden Island last Sunday, when he critized the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau and the Hawai’i Hotel Association for not passing on disaster information.
“It was not my intent to alienate people,” he said, adding he was “not necessarily being fair to them. I do apologize for taking jabs.” “One of my problems is talking when I shouldn’t,” Marshall said to some smiles from council members.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or dwilken@pulitzer.net
