Warning that Hawai'i needs to prepare for a disaster, Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday she would ask the state Legislature to make a multimillion-dollar investment to upgrade state and private buildings, buy more emergency sirens and stockpile supplies and medicines.

State lawmakers have discussed many of the same ideas since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast — and had taken some new emergency precautions even before the storm — so it is likely the Legislature will take action next session.

A lack of adequate emergency shelters has been identified as perhaps the state's greatest weakness, with many located in aging public schools. But the governor, after consulting with state Civil Defense officials, has decided to ask for a modest $4 million to upgrade shelters rather than the estimated $35 million needed.

Public schools have a separate repair and maintenance backlog of $524 million and school leaders likely will ask lawmakers for $160 million next session to chip away at the work. Civil Defense officials said $4 million for shelter upgrades may be all repair crews can handle next year while the state devises a long-range plan to coordinate shelter and school upgrades.

"It's a race against time," said Ed Teixeira, vice director of state Civil Defense, who would also use the money to plan for shelters for people with special needs and pets, which are lacking in the existing shelter network.

The administration also hopes that by upgrading other public buildings to withstand a catastrophic storm, and by offering tax credits and other incentives for private companies and homeowners to retrofit their buildings and homes, it will lessen the need for people to go to emergency shelters. The state has estimated it is short 124,000 shelter spaces, with nearly half of the shortage on O'ahu.

Lingle, speaking at a news conference before a disaster planning meeting in Waikiki, described the package as the most comprehensive, and important, since she became governor three years ago.

"Hawai'i has been very fortunate, unlike some of our sister states, but we are not immune," Lingle said. "It's only a matter of time before we get hit again. Part of our success, a major part, is planning for that next occurrence."

State Sen. Lorraine Inouye, D-1st (Hamakua, S. Hilo), the chairwoman of the Senate Transportation and Government Operations Committee, said lawmakers agree that emergency preparations are a priority.

"I really appreciate the pace and movement by the administration," she said. "This is not going to be a political issue."

The administration is proposing $4 million to upgrade state buildings, with a priority on data and operations centers, such as the Kalanimoku Building downtown.

A 4 percent income tax credit for storm improvements would be offered to hotels, nursing homes and other private businesses that retrofit their buildings, which could cost the state $3.7 million a year in lost tax revenue.

The administration, by executive order, will require new state buildings to be storm-ready and will expect any nonprofit or private group that receives state building money to do the same.

The administration also will release $2 million from the Hurricane Relief Fund, approved by lawmakers last session, to reimburse homeowners up to 35 percent — or a maximum of $2,100 — of the cost of installing wind-resistant protection to their homes.

Lingle said the state will ask counties to strengthen building codes and, if counties do not comply voluntarily, she would recommend that lawmakers require counties to approve the upgrades.

The administration also wants to use the annual interest from the Hurricane Relief Fund — about $6 million a year — for a special fund that would be used to stockpile supplies, cover the costs of making the Civil Defense office a round-the-clock operation and purchase emergency sirens to serve gap areas that do not have the warnings now.

Last month, the administration said it would ask the Legislature for $15 million to purchase a stockpile of anti-viral drugs as a precaution against an avian flu outbreak.

Lingle also will urge lawmakers to join the federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact so the governor could ask for help from other states in an emergency. Hawai'i, according to state officials, is the only state that does not belong to the compact.

After reports that some emergency workers were targets of violence after Hurricane Katrina, Lingle said she wants lawmakers to increase the penalties for attacking emergency workers and looting.

"We need to send a very clear message that any attack on a first responder will be dealt with in the severest fashion," she said.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.