The University of Hawaiʻi’蝉 (PDC) has been on the frontlines supporting statewide response to historic flooding in Hawaiʻi’ since preparations began in early March, and continues to support statewide recovery efforts currently underway. The applied science and research center’蝉 advanced technology and staff experts are providing state and county officials with on-demand data and analysis to guide decisions and prioritize resources.
As response operations shift into long-term recovery, the Center is working closely with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and county partners to maintain a shared understanding of conditions on the ground. Through its DisasterAWARE platform, PDC delivers real-time updates and a common operational picture to help agencies coordinate recovery efforts.
“Our focus is on helping communities move from uncertainty to clarity—giving community leaders the confidence and data to make lifesaving decisions,” said PDC’蝉 Deputy Executive Director Erin Hughey. “As we focus on the challenges of today, we are also reminding communities to keep an eye on long-term recovery. Working together across agencies we will remain focused on quickly translating complex information into practical insights, to help Hawaiʻi rebuild in a way that is stronger and better prepared.”
Identifying hardest-hit areas
PDC has expanded its data holdings to support the state’蝉 official damage assessment and needs analysis. These include detailed information on the status of schools, major transportation systems and key entry points such as airports and seaports. The data is helping officials identify the hardest-hit areas and direct limited resources where they are needed most.
To support daily operations, PDC staff are embedded at the state emergency operations center, helping integrate new data and analytics into recovery planning. The team is also working with state leaders to develop a comprehensive summary report on the flooding impacts, aimed at improving awareness and informing both local and national recovery support.
The Center remains engaged in state-led coordination meetings and continues to provide on-demand analysis as recovery priorities evolve. Ongoing updates through DisasterAWARE are designed to support long-term rebuilding and strengthen resilience to future disasters.
While the PDC’蝉 current focus is on Hawaiʻi’蝉 recovery efforts, it is also looking ahead at the rare Super El Niño hurricane forecast which is slated to be potentially the strongest in a century, affecting not only Hawaiʻi but other communities around the world. PDC has an international mission that actively supports disaster planning and humanitarian efforts globally using its advanced technologies, predictive analytics, data science and machine learning capabilities. PDC’蝉 work spans across North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and other regions, developing early warning capacity, supporting preparedness exercises and planning, and offering advanced risk analysis. These projects leverage the same data-driven tools used locally to help decision-makers anticipate risks, coordinate response and allocate resources effectively.