Hawai'i Agriculture
Disaster Response
Statewide Rapid Assessment Tool
Report disaster impacts, view statewide data, and find recovery programs for Hawai'i's agricultural producers.
What to Expect When Disaster Strikes
The Disaster Cycle at a Glance
Disasters can feel sudden and overwhelming, but they are part of a larger cycle that communities move through over time. Each event brings real harm and loss, and it can also offer lessons that help strengthen future preparedness.
Diagram adapted from Sawalha IH (2020), “A contemporary perspective on the disaster management cycle.” Foresight, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 469–482.
Hawai'i's Disaster History (1980–2026)
Tropical storms, tsunamis, wildfires and flooding are some of the most common disasters Hawai'i has faced. Based on the Hawai'i Emergency Proclamations from 1980–2026 there have been 26 major disaster events recorded within these four categories.
Common Impacts Across Disasters
Different disasters often have similar ripple effects across agriculture — impacting production, land, water, infrastructure, finance, and farmer health. Here are common examples across each area.
Government Response & Recovery
Disaster response follows a local-first principle. Each level activates when the one below is overwhelmed.
State and federal agencies collaborate on agricultural recovery. Examples below show common response and recovery actions by impact category.
What Can Farmers Do?
After a disaster, it's common to feel overwhelmed and to experience instability and loss. In the days and weeks that follow, recovery can happen step by step, starting with documenting what was impacted and gradually connecting with support as it becomes available.
Program Overview
USDA offers a range of disaster assistance programs for farmers. These programs can apply to most disasters common in Hawai'i, such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Click any program to learn more on the official website. Based on the USDA Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance brochure.
Source: farmers.gov/protection-recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my participation matter?
After a disaster, official damage estimates often rely on aerial surveys or agency inspections that can miss on-the-ground impacts to farms. When farmers report their own experiences, it creates a clearer picture of what actually happened — which crops were lost, what infrastructure was damaged, and what kinds of support are most needed.
This information helps organizations like Ag Stewardship Hawai'i advocate for resources that match real needs, and it helps agencies direct assistance where it's needed most. Even partial reports are valuable — every response adds to the picture.
What happens when I submit a report?
After you submit, you'll immediately see a list of USDA disaster assistance programs that may apply to your situation based on the disaster type, operation, and losses you reported. You can use this as a starting point when contacting your local USDA Service Center.
Your report also contributes to the aggregated public dashboard, where total impacts are shown by island, sector, and disaster type — without identifying individual farms.
How is my data used and who can see it?
Your data is used in two ways:
- Public dashboard: Aggregated totals by island, sector, and disaster type are visible to anyone. Individual farm names, locations, and contact information are never shown publicly.
- Internal view: Authorized personnel at Ag Stewardship Hawai'i may view individual submissions to coordinate outreach and connect farmers with relevant support. This information is not shared publicly.
Your contact information is optional. If you choose to provide it, it may be used to follow up with resources or to connect you with relevant assistance programs.
Do I need a disaster declaration to report?
No. You can report impacts at any time, regardless of whether a federal or state disaster declaration has been issued. In fact, early reports from farmers can help support the case for a declaration by documenting the scope of agricultural losses.
Some USDA programs (like NAP, ELAP, and TAP) do not require a presidential disaster declaration. Others (like SBA disaster loans) do. The program finder will indicate which programs may apply to your situation.
What if I don't know my exact losses yet?
That's okay. You can provide your best estimate. The goal is to capture the general scope and type of impact, not to require exact dollar figures. Even rough estimates help build a picture of statewide agricultural losses.
If you're applying for USDA programs, your local Service Center will work with you on detailed documentation. This tool is a starting point, not a formal application.
Who built this tool?
This tool was built by Supersistence for Agriculture Stewardship Hawai'i as part of the Food Systems Emergency Mapping Project. It draws on research into agricultural disaster reporting tools used in the United States, Australia, and other contexts, and was informed by stakeholder input from the Hawai'i Food Systems Summit.
Visual content & design: Haley Fitzpatrick
Technical development: Hunter Heaivilin
For questions or feedback, contact Ag Stewardship Hawai'i.
Where can I find my local USDA Service Center?
Use the USDA Service Center Locator to find your nearest office. Service Centers house both the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which administer most of the disaster assistance programs listed in this tool.
You can also visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery for a complete overview of USDA disaster assistance.
View real-time disaster impact data, report your own experience, or find matching assistance programs.
