Release Date: April 23, 2026Release Number: NR-002 Residents of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai'i and Maui counties who were affected by the March 10–24, 2026 Kona Low flooding now have until June 14, 2026, to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance. Under the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is available to help eligible... Continue Reading →
MEMA Emergency Preparedness Expo 2026
MEMA encourages community members to attend the annual Emergency Preparedness Expo on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, 275 W. Kaʻahumanu Ave., Kahului. This free community event will bring together partnering agencies and organizations to provide the public with emergency preparedness education, resources and hands-on information to help... Continue Reading →
Do I Live in a Dam Evacuation Zone?
You may have recently learned from reading our March 10th blog post that you live near a state regulated dam. Now you may be asking yourself, "what does this mean and how do I factor this information into my family's emergency preparedness plans?". The Department of Land and Natural Resources' Engineering Division recently deployed a... Continue Reading →
April is Hawaiʻi Tsunami Awareness Month
Since the 1990s, Hawaiʻi has used April as Tsunami Awareness Month. Federal, State, and Local government agencies, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and other non-profit organizations team together to sponsor awareness and outreach events aimed at sustaining awareness of Hawaiʻi's tsunami hazards. The April 1, 1946 (April Fool's day) tsunami from the Aleutian islands surprised the... Continue Reading →
Important Resources to Assist in Storm Recovery
The following is a compilation of important resources provided by FEMA to help property owners and renters navigate the recovery process from the recent Kona low storm this past weekend: Quick Resources Video: How to Document Damage Flyer: NFIP How To Start a Flood Insurance Claim Starting Your Claim Fact Sheet: Starting Your Recovery: FEMA’s... Continue Reading →
Counties encourage property owners to report damage from recent Kona low storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S939P15mVV0 On February 21st, Hawai'i experienced a severe weather event that caused significant flooding, especially to hard hit windward Oʻahu. Now, less than a month later, another (Kona low) system brought more rain and damaging winds across the entire state this past weekend. County officials want to better understand the damages and impacts this system... Continue Reading →
Take Action to Minimize Flood Damage
If you haven't already done so, Hawai'i property owners should prepare for the impending storm this weekend. Physical safety of yourself, family members, and beloved pets should be your first priority. Time permitting, review your emergency action plans, map out your evacuation routes, familiarize yourself with shelter locations near you, and take the following proactive... Continue Reading →
Do You Know If You Live Near a Dam?
Did you know that in Hawai'i there are 122 regulated dams? Knowing if you live near a dam is critical for safety because, while rare, dam failures or sudden, necessary releases can cause rapid, violent, and devastating downstream flooding. Understanding this risk allows you to identify inundation zones, prepare emergency plans, obtain proper insurance, and receive... Continue Reading →
State Park Closures ahead of incoming storm
STATE PARK CLOSURES DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER: KAUAʻI AND OʻAHU FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2026 HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has announced closures of the following state parks and trails due to the forecast of severe weather conditions: Kauaʻi Polihale State Park: Closed to both day and overnight... Continue Reading →