September is National Preparedness Month: Practical steps for Hawai‘i residents

# Why September matters September is National Preparedness Month, a prompt to review and strengthen how you and your household respond to disasters. The past year in Hawai'i included hurricanes, volcanic activity, earthquakes, flooding and severe weather. Those events produced power outages and disrupted roads with little or no lead time.

# Four practical preparedness steps The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory lists four concrete actions that apply to nearly any emergency:

• Make an emergency plan. A household plan should include evacuation routes, meeting points, and how you will communicate if cell service or power are down. Include contingencies for pets and for people who need medication or special assistance.

• Get involved in your community. Local networks can provide timely, practical support during and after an event.

# How volcano alerts and aviation codes work Hawaiian Volcano Observatory uses a four-tiered Volcanic Activity Alert Notification System for ground hazards, paired with aviation color codes for airborne ash hazards.

These two systems usually move together, but can be different when ground hazards and airborne ash hazards diverge. For example, lava flows threatening infrastructure could raise the ground-based alert to Warning while the aviation color code remains lower if ash emissions are minimal.

# Earthquakes in Hawai'i: unpredictable and widespread Hawai'i has one of the highest earthquake hazards in the U.S. The south side of Hawai'i Island has especially elevated hazard, but earthquakes anywhere in the state can cause ground cracks, settling, landslides and local tsunamis. Because earthquakes often occur without clear warning, the same preparedness steps—plan, kit, and community ties—are crucial.

# Communication and signups

# Practical implication for island living Hawai'i's geographic isolation and rural communities mean external assistance can take longer to reach affected areas. Build a supply kit that lets your household manage for at least a short period after a disaster. Include water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries, important documents, and pet supplies.

# Visual and contextual reminder The article includes a USGS photo of a car parked in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park showing tephra fall after summit lava fountaining. That image illustrates how quickly volcanic activity can produce local hazards and disrupt daily life.

# Bottom line