A new peer-reviewed study led by University of Hawaiʻi researchers reveals a critical gap in disaster readiness across Hawaiʻi, with only 12% of households meeting the State of Hawaiʻi's recommended levels of emergency stockpiling of food, water and essential medicine. This low compliance signals significant vulnerability should a major hurricane, supply-chain disruption or other disaster occur.
"An Analysis of Disaster Preparedness and Household Compliance in Hawaiʻi: A Socio-cognitive Approach," published in the International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters, offers the most comprehensive analysis of household preparedness to date, providing vital insights for state policymakers and disaster-prone regions worldwide.
The study, led by UH West Oʻahu Professor Konstantinos Zougris and Associate Professor Albie Miles, surveyed 1,006 households across all islands. Researchers also documented a moderate but meaningful gap between residents' perceptions of preparedness and their actual behaviors, suggesting many believe they are ready when they are not.
Emergency preparedness guidance and 14-day supply checklist are available at the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Ready Guide .
"By empirically mapping preparedness behavior across Hawaiʻi households, we offer critical evidence that state-level recommendations alone are insufficient, and effective household preparedness demands tailored communication, community engagement and structural support," said Zougris.
Roadmap for strengthening resilience
The researchers identified several factors strongly influencing household readiness, including risk perception, trust in authorities, perceived behavioral control, past disaster experience, and financial constraints. The study's recommendations—which include region-specific public communications, expanded education and training, community-based initiatives, and financial incentives for disaster preparedness—offer a roadmap for strengthening resilience.
The findings are especially relevant for the upcoming Hawaiʻi Food System Summit 2025 , December 8–9, which will focus on "Food System Resilience and Disaster Preparedness." The summit will convene more than 200 stakeholders across the islands to integrate food system planning, disaster readiness and community resilience.
The post Only 1 in 10 Hawaiʻi households meet emergency preparedness standards first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News .
