Many of Hawai'i's emergency shelter spaces fall short of the state's best standard for protection but could still be used in a hurricane, ideally with upgrades such as security screens or bracing.

A storm with the punch of Hurricane Katrina — with winds of 130 mph to 155 mph and an ocean surge — could cause flooding, damage shelters and compound what civil defense officials have already identified as a critical shortage of space.

The possibility that thousands of people might have to leave their homes and compete for shelter space is chilling, especially when these community lifelines are at public schools with chronic repair and maintenance backlogs.

"We've continually tried to avoid using words like, 'Going to a shelter means you're safe,'" said Ed Teixeira, vice director of state Civil Defense. "It could mean you're safer than staying in your home if your home is not constructed properly. It's the best we can provide that lowers the risk to you."

Statewide, Civil Defense officials want to provide shelter for 462,000 people and are about 124,000 spaces short, with nearly half of the shortage — 60,000 — on O'ahu. The chances are remote that all 219 shelters in the Islands would be needed at the same time, but the state's geography limits people's choices in an evacuation, particularly in a worse-case scenario where a hurricane hits urban Honolulu or damages several islands.

"Honestly, it's not a reality right now," Maria Lutz, director of disaster services at the Hawai'i chapter of the American Red Cross, said of adequate shelter space. "We're just trying to get as many spaces as we can."

In Honolulu, according to Civil Defense records, only 42,544 of the 117,500 available shelter spaces have the state's best rating. On the Wai'anae Coast, which is susceptible to storm damage and has limited evacuation routes, 3,994 of the 18,199 shelter spaces have the best rating.

Ideal shelters are in buildings made of concrete where the walls and roof are tied to solid foundations, door frames are braced, and windows have wooden or PVC louvers and aluminum or steel security screens. The buildings must be able to resist minimum Uniform Building Code wind speed of 80 mph, far less than the devastating force of hurricanes Iniki or Katrina.

Civil Defense has a five-tier rating for shelter spaces, with the first tier indicating the spaces are generally ready and the second and third meaning they are usable but need security screens, bracing or other minor upgrades. The bottom two ratings mean the shelters are not suitable for a hurricane but could be used to house people once a storm passes.

At the state Legislature last week, lawmakers learned that none of the shelters has been specifically designated for the elderly, the sick or the disabled, a weakness in the state's evacuation planning. But public buildings are required to meet accessibility standards of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, such as wheelchair ramps, and civil defense officials will likely incorporate people with special needs — who would probably need larger shelter space — into future plans.

"It could be a real disaster," said Barbara Kim Stanton, the state director of the AARP, who said the elderly should be prepared for the possibility they may be separated from their caregivers. The elderly should take any medication, special food or drinks, walkers or wheelchairs with them in an evacuation.

"You really have to look at what you can do as an individual," Stanton said. "You have to have a buddy system where you have a neighbor or family member check up on you. Caregivers may not be able to reach you."

Pets are not allowed at shelters, which, as Katrina showed in New Orleans, can complicate an evacuation because people are reluctant to part with their animals. Dogs trained to help the disabled are permitted, however.

"It's so important that people make advance plans and start thinking about it now," said Jacque Smith, director of community relations for the Hawaiian Humane Society, which estimates there are 330,000 cats and dogs on O'ahu.

Smith said people should have a carrier and food and water ready for their pets and identify friends or family members who might be willing to care for their pets in an emergency. If forced to evacuate, she said, people should take their pets with them and keep them in their cars rather than leave them behind.

"We'd hope that the government policy would change," Smith said. "We'd like to see a pet-friendly shelter designated in every district."

The American Red Cross would operate the shelters and has 1,500 trained volunteers ready to mobilize, typically at shelters near where they live or where their children go to school. Another 1,500 volunteers have been identified to help with disaster relief.

Civil Defense estimates it would take $35 million to upgrade shelters, with the work likely being spread out over several years. The upgrades would be in addition to the routine repair and maintenance that has been an embarrassing thorn for public schools, where the backlog is estimated at $500 million.

The state Department of Education has just assumed control over the work from the state Department of Accounting and General Services, which had been blamed for some repair delays in the past. The department can negotiate with private contractors or with DAGS for the work, but education officials are still in the early stages of getting comfortable with the responsibility.

Duane Kashiwai, who moved from DAGS to the DOE during the transition, said the department would like to do shelter upgrades at the same time as other school repairs for efficiency and to avoid disrupting students and staff.

Others in the department agree with the urgency for shelter upgrades but hope lawmakers do not let repair and maintenance spending lag. The Legislature approved $75 million for repair and maintenance this year, down from $100 million the year before.

State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said Katrina has shown the need to be prepared. He said lawmakers would likely review money for shelter upgrades and expanded tax credits for people who take precautions to secure their homes to reduce storm damage.

"I think we're cognizant there is a problem," Taniguchi said. "After it hits, it's like, 'Why didn't you spend the money?' But before, it's sometimes a low priority."

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.