Emergency planners and government officials from across the Pacific are attending a conference on natural disaster and climate adaptation planning this week at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
Public session
>> What: “Hawaii Prepares 2017,” information about protecting homes and families from natural disasters
>> Fee: Free
>> When: 3:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday
>> Where: Hawai‘i Convention Center
>> Parking: Free validated parking will be available with a donation to the Hawaii Foodbank.
The 15th annual Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana (PRiMO) conference will feature dozens of presentations, panels and workshops, in addition to a free public event Wednesday designed to increase public awareness of hurricanes, tsunamis, climate-related sea level rise and other threats.
Marshall Islands President Hilde Heine, the first woman to hold the office of president in a Micronesian country, will deliver the keynote address to open the conference this morning.
Heine, who earned her master’s degree at the University of Hawaii and has served as a learning scientist with the Pacific Islands Climate Change Education Partnership, is expected to join other leaders to discuss strategies for climate adaptation and community resilience.
Also speaking at the conference, which continues through Thursday, will be Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo.
“What PRiMO has been able to accomplish over the years enhances the resilience of communities in Hawaii,” said Karl Kim, executive director of UH’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, in a news release.
Kim, chairman of the PRiMO Navigators’ Council, said that bringing together leaders in disaster risk management from government agencies, universities, the private sector and Pacific island nations for the annual meeting provides a valuable opportunity to collaborate, share best practices and review lessons learned to improve preparedness, response and recovery from disasters.
This year’s conference is scheduled to include sessions on climate security, adaptation initiatives, recovery planning, hazard insurance and environmental health and security, as well as poster and academic presentations on various disaster planning and response issues.
Like previous PRiMO conferences, there will be a free public event called “Hawaii Prepares 2017,” offering information about protecting homes and families from natural disasters.
The free event is from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the convention center. It will also feature food security demonstrations that include preparation and sampling of freeze-dried emergency food rations. Free validated parking will be available with a donation to the Hawaii Foodbank.
For more information on the 2017 PRiMO, visit primohui.org.
