U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono earlier this year voted against
funding the Tsunami Warning Network that provides Hawaii with early
tsunami detection and warnings. The high-tech buoy network faced $4.5
million in cuts in February, and Hirono opposed bipartisan House
legislation to fully fund the critical system for FY2013 [1].
"Hirono voted against the best interest of our state – a state in a
Tsunami high-risk zone – and against one of our most important
life-saving tools, by voting against fully funding the Tsunami Warning
Network," said former Director of Hawaii Civil Defense and Linda Lingle
Campaign Manager Bob Lee.
Despite Hirono's disregard for her constituency, the House of
Representatives voted to strengthen the Tsunami Warning Network by
reinstating full funding for education and awareness programs of the
National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, and DART buoy network
maintenance for FY 2013 [2], according to Lee.
"Hirono continues to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of
the critical issues facing Hawaii, putting the people of Hawaii at an
unnecessary risk. When push comes to shove, Mazie Hirono does not stand
up for what is best for Hawaii," Lee added.
"Conversely, through Governor Lingle's leadership, Hawaii vastly
improved its state civil defense operations. In 2005, Hawaii became the
first state in the nation to earn the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association's (NOAA) National Weather Service StormReady and
TsunamiReady designations. Through the StormReady and TsunamiReady
programs, Hawaii became better prepared to protect the lives and
property of its residents and visitors during severe weather events.
This readiness was aptly demonstrated in the safe and timely evacuations
for our coastline communities statewide during the Chile Tsunami of
February 27, 2010 and during the Japan (Tohoku) tsunami of March 11,
2011," Lee concluded.
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