If there was a major disaster in Central Oahu, there is currently no facility in the area with emergency equipment at the ready to respond to residents in Mililani, Wahiawa, Waikele or Waipio."When you think about it, tsunamis and other really serious emergencies, there is no facility right now that EMS has to do it," says Marty Burke, Waipahu Neighborhood Board.
Currently EMS operates out of this small office in the back of the Kaiser Waipio Clinic. But the Waipahu Neighborhood Board is pushing for the building of a new facility here on this city owned piece of land near the corner of Kamehameha highway and Ka Uka boulevard to house an ambulance and back-up dispatch center.
"It's a central location away from the shoreline to keep emergency equipment for all EMS, for Waipio and the entire Central Oahu for a coordinated effort," says Dr. James Ireland, EMS Director.
In 2009 $3.85Million dollars was appropriated for the project, but since then no plan, design or construction-- and time is running out. If not spent by July next year, the funds will be forfeited.
"For us we want to make sure it's done right and it's a short time frame to encumber the funds to design, plan, permit to make sure that the project is a success," says Dr. Ireland.
The facility isn't the only thing the city is considering in terms of EMS & Ambulance services. Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard is chairing a meeting next week Tuesday where Honolulu Fire and EMS will brief the council on pros and cons of a possible merger.
"This idea has been floated for some time," says Gabbard. "A lot of detail needs to be looked at closely to make sure this is right for Honolulu."
Major cities like New York, Washington DC, Houston and San Francisco have all merged their ambulance and fire departments into one.
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