DOH to survey West Hawaii communities on disaster preparedness

KONA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Department of Health will survey West Hawaii households this month to learn more about emergency preparedness and disaster impacts.

Read more DOH conditionally approves Navy Aiea Halawa Shaft reactivation

The Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), survey will be conducted Sept. 14 through 18 in the Kona, Kohala and Hamakua districts.

Survey teams will go door-to-door in 30 randomly selected census blocks, with seven households chosen in each block for a total of 210 surveys.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and asks households about disaster impacts, emergency and evacuation plans, infectious disease concerns and overall health and well-being.

Participation is voluntary, and DOH said no names or addresses will be collected.

Read more DLNR grants Navy, NASA extension on Kauai environmental review

“Our communities have experienced a lot in the past year – severe weather, earthquakes and wildfires,” said Dr. John Kolman, district health officer for the Hawaii District Health Office. “The rigorous information we gather through the survey will enable the Hawaii District Health Office and Hawaii County to better meet our communities’ needs before, during and after a disaster.”

DOH staff will make up most of the survey teams, with support from local volunteer agencies when available.

Team members will wear identifying vests and carry identification cards. Selected households can also choose to complete the survey by phone.

A similar survey was conducted in Hilo, Puna and Kau in May 2025, and DOH said those findings helped inform Hurricane Lala response and recovery efforts.

Read more State officials warn of scam calls targeting professional licensees