Our mission is to protect and improve the health and environment for all people in Hawaiʻi and spearheading statewide emergency readiness efforts to safeguard public health during crises.
Who We Are
The OPHP team focuses on:
- Planning, training, exercising, and responding to natural and man-made disasters
- Emerging infectious diseases and pandemics
- Bioterrorism, spills, and other public health threats
- Distributing emergency supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
Emergency Support Functions (EFS)
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health’s Office of Public Health Preparedness plays a lead role in the state’s emergency response for two key emergency support functions (ESF). ESFs as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provide the structure for coordinating federal interagency support for a federal response to an incident.
SESF #8: Public Health and Medical Services
In a disaster we coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies as well as private partners to meet the public health and medical needs of the statewide community.
Public health and medical emergencies include:
- Disease prevention and containment
- Healthcare and medical response
- Environmental health and safety
- Behavioral health services
- Healthcare infrastructure protection and assessment
- Mass fatality management
- Medical sheltering; and mass patient movement
SESF #10: Oil and HAZMAT Response
If there is an actual or potential release of oil or hazardous materials we coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies as well as private partners to mitigate and remedy environmental impacts. We support both short- and long-term environmental cleanup.
We also play a supporting role in SESF #3: Public Works and Engineering and SESF #6: Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services. Our services are supported by federal funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program (PHEP); and additional grants.
Training Initiatives & Community Engagement
We are actively engaged in training, exercises, and conferences to enhance community readiness and resilience. Through these initiatives, the OPHP strengthens the state’s ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors.
Efforts include:
- All-hazards exercises where simulated emergency scenarios are run that test response capabilities, foster collaboration among agencies, and identify areas for improvement.
- Community engagement through health fairs and public events help to raise awareness about emergency preparedness, provide resources, and promote health initiatives.
- Collaborative partnerships with local organizations, agencies, and stakeholders working together to ensure a unified approach to public health challenges.
Through these initiatives, the OPHP strengthens the state’s ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors.
Living in Hawai‘i means being aware of a wide range of hazards because of our islands’ location. Learn about Hawai‘i’s most common risks and emergencies.