Emergency officials, weather experts, to address disaster risk at North Shore preparedness forum

Partly due to El Niño conditions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service predicts a 70% chance of an above-normal hurricane season in the central Pacific, which runs through Nov. 30.

To help residents prepare, the nonprofit organization North Shore Give will host a Community Preparedness Forum on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Anaina Hou Community Park’s Porter Pavilion in Kīlauea.

“Kauaʻi’s North Shore is a beautiful but geographically isolated community,” said Louis
LaFratta, president of North Shore Give. “Whether it’s a hurricane, flooding event,
extended power outage, or another emergency, preparedness starts before disaster
strikes.”

The nonprofit’s executive director Maylette Garces added that the forecast underscores the importance of personal preparedness on the North Shore — from Anahola to Hāʻena — where emergency resources are limited, and served by a single fire station, a single police station and two ambulance units.

The forum will feature experts from emergency management, weather forecasting, wildfire prevention and emergency communications agencies on the island.

Among the scheduled speakers is Dr. David Hitzl of NOAA’s National Weather Service, who will discuss the 2026 hurricane outlook and the potential impacts of El Niño on Kauaʻi and the Hawaiian chain.

Padraic Gallagher of the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency will provide an overview of local hazards and preparedness resources available to residents.

Wildfire mitigation specialists Erin Conway and Jasmyn Welch of the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization will discuss strategies for protecting homes and neighborhoods from wildfire threats. They are traveling from Hawaiʻi Island to attend the event.

Additional presentations will focus on maintaining communications during disasters, including amateur radio and satellite-based systems that can function when cellular networks and internet service are unavailable.

Lifeguard Chris Pico of the Ocean Safety Bureau will discuss the PulsePoint mobile application, which alerts trained community members to nearby emergencies where assistance may be needed before first responders arrive on scene.

Garces with North Shore Give also will highlight Community Emergency Response Team programs and CPR/AED training opportunities scheduled for September that are designed to strengthen local resilience.

The event is open to the public, and all residents are encouraged to attend. As an incentive to attend, three attendees will win a Solar Emergency Radio & Power Bank featuring NOAA weather alerts, solar charging, hand-crank power generation, a flashlight and cell phone charging.

“In a major disaster, first responders will be focused on the most critical situations and may not be able to reach everyone immediately,” Garces said. “Residents need to be prepared to take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors.”