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Emergency Management seeks staff increase, Hau'ula resilience hub and hardened shelter investments
Summary
Director Randall Collins requested an expanded DEM operating budget for FY27 that includes eight new full‑time positions, funding for after‑hours activations, and CIP funding for a Hau'ula resiliency hub; councilmembers pressed DEM on the island’s lack of hurricane‑rated public shelters and the need for hardened facilities.
The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) presented a FY27 budget that would increase staffing and fund resilience projects to address growing disaster risk across Oʻahu.
DEM Director Randall Collins told the committee his department’s FY27 personnel request includes eight new full‑time positions and a roughly 40% increase to the salary budget line tied to those hires and negotiated pay adjustments. Collins said DEM expects to hire supervisors first, then additional staff as positions are approved and reclassification/reorganization work is completed.
Capital priorities called out in the presentation include a proposed Hau'ula Resiliency Hub with a CIP ask of about $2 million intended as a start toward larger island‑wide sheltering and continuity needs. Collins described additional work on regional operations centers (air‑conditioning and generator upgrades and conversion of groundwater storage tanks) and noted a request to replace a fleet vehicle (one 2005 SUV) at a cost around $62,500.
Council members pressed DEM about sheltering for high‑wind events. Collins stated that most commonly used public shelters (schools and parks) are not rated to withstand hurricane‑force winds and that the City currently relies on ‘last refuge’ strategies and encouraging residents to shelter with family or in buildings built to newer codes. He said the Hau'ula hub is an initial step toward hardened facilities but acknowledged more investment is needed.
Collins also discussed federal grant timing and staff conversions: four current federally funded positions would be transitioned to civil service while the FY27 budget secures the department’s baseline capability. He said the department is open to exploring contracts or retainers with private logistics providers to augment surge capacity but cautioned that many mainland vendors lack permanently stationed island resources.
What’s next: DEM said it will continue refining its staffing plan with HR and BFS and provide further details to the committee. Members asked for tracking codes and accounting for potential state payments tied to land transfers (e.g., Kapolei village infrastructure funds) and for continued outreach to increase Honolulu Alerts subscriptions.
Ending: DEM emphasized that the Hau'ula hub and incremental staffing increases are part of an effort to right‑size the department to risk and to improve after‑hours and activation response capability.
