The O'ahu Civil Defense Agency would be replaced by a city department called the Department of Emergency Management under a proposal by Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Hannemann told reporters at a news conference yesterday that the elevation would help give the agency its proper seat at the table with other Cabinet members. He said the move would add a handful of positions and take the annual budget from $900,000 to more than $1 million.

But he said the change is needed since modern life calls for the agency to respond to a variety of emergencies that range from tsunami alerts, power outages, hurricanes to terrorism threats.

"We take public safety very seriously," Hannemann said.

Although the change may seem small, he said it is significant in giving those who work in disaster relief the recognition they need.

He said the emergency workers need to work with others as first responders and more. "We also have to be first preventers," he said.

Hannemann said he is asking the City Council to make the change to reflect the post-Sept. 11 world. The agency is run by an administrator who would be a director with civil service protection, as required by state law.