The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) will conduct a household survey from 14 to 18 September to assess emergency preparedness and the health impacts of natural disasters in the Kona, Kohala and Hamakua districts.

Known as the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), the survey will examine evacuation plans, previous disaster experiences and concerns regarding overall health and infectious diseases. This assessment follows a May 2025 survey in the Hilo, Puna and Kau districts that informed hurricane response and recovery efforts.

Survey teams, primarily consisting of DOH staff with support from local volunteer agencies, will visit 30 randomly selected census blocks. In each block, seven households will be randomly selected, totalling 210 household surveys. The survey is voluntary, takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and can be performed by phone. Responses are confidential, and teams will not collect names or addresses. Survey members will wear DOH identification vests and carry ID cards.

“The CASPER survey in Hawaii County allows us to assess household public health emergency preparedness and evacuation plans, as well as understand household awareness and concerns,”

said Dr John Kolman, district health officer for the Hawaii District Health Office. Kolman noted the survey follows a year of wildfires, earthquakes and severe weather, and will reach communities not included in the previous year's assessment.

“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,”

Kolman said. The CASPER methodology was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess a community's health and resource needs following a disaster.