On the recordMarch 9, 2010
today I would like to commend the people of Hawaii for their quick response to the tsunami caused by the earthquake in Chile. On Saturday, February 27, 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile generated a tsunami throughout the Pacific. A tsunami warning was issued for Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the Marshall and Solomon Islands. Additionally, a tsunami advisory was issued for the west coast of the United States and Alaska. My staff and I monitored the situation closely, and were in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and the Hawaii State Civil Defense. FEMA was monitoring the situation in Hawaii and the other territories from the FEMA Region IX office in California and Region X office in Washington State. Supplies for any recovery effort in the Pacific are prepositioned in Hawaii at FEMA's Pacific Area Office warehouse, as well as in Guam and American Samoa. I worked to establish and maintain the FEMA Pacific Area Office headquartered in Honolulu in order to protect our isolated island communities. The office has been essential for preparedness efforts in Hawaii and critical for disaster response throughout the Pacific region. Equally important, the actions of State and local officials and the people of Hawaii have demonstrated the value of citizen and community preparedness.
