Hawai’i is susceptible to many types of weather and human-made disasters. It is important to know your hazards and stay ready. While it is impossible to plan for every emergency, there are actions you can take to be prepared for unexpected events.

Use the “Plan To Be Ready” guide from the Hawaii DOH to help you start your family emergency plan.

Your family may not be at home together during a disaster. Plan early, decide how you will contact each other, how you will get back together if separated, and what you will do in different emergency situations.

Plan ahead for power outages – due to a PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) or any other time your electricity goes out.
This is very important for those who use medical devices that need electricity, or medicines that need to be refrigerated.
Talk with your doctor and pharmacist, and visit Hawaiian Electric’s website for tips and resources.

Stay up to date on all recommended vaccines and boosters, in case you must stay in a shelter or other crowded conditions:
Respiratory Viruses | Disease Outbreak Control Division (hawaii.gov).

For more information, check out the CDC’s (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) page for planning ahead for emergencies and the American Red Cross’s page on making a family emergency plan. These and other resources below share step-by-step tips you can use now to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Helpful tools

• • DOH Guide “Plan To Be Ready”
  • Preparedness tips in other languages: “Ready in Your Language“
  • CDC information page on planning ahead for emergencies
  • American Red Cross family disaster planning sheet (fillable PDF)
  • American Red Cross on making a family emergency plan
  • Learn about emergency communication plans from FEMA’s ready.gov
  • Download a Family Emergency Plan information sheet (fillable PDF)
  • Download a Family Emergency Plan information card for kids (fillable PDF)

 Hawaii, Are YOU Ready? Make a Plan.

Last reviewed July 2024