HONOLULU (KHON2) — During a disaster, it’s important to have food, shelter and a plan. Here’s a look into food security and what factors put that at risk.

“Food insecurity throughout the state is a challenge right now in blue skies. In a disaster, it’s going to increase across communities,” said Administrator James Barros from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Barros said six percent of families that have children miss meals due to food insecurity.

Now, HI-EMA is looking to build resilience and readiness across the state to prepare for when a disaster hits and the supply chain is interrupted.

Barros added more than 80 percent of our food comes through shipping.

“So when they look and say what else can we do to build resiliency in the harbor, so that’s the first piece in the supply chain. And the trucking industry, the partnerships that are private partners form, that conversation that continues to happen, that’s super important. Hawaii Food Service Alliance, Chad Buck and his team, partnering with DM and the Food Bank and really looking at how do we continue feed people during a disaster.”

“Right now, I’m looking at if we strengthen our food supply now, today, before a disaster, the impact to the food chain of our food sustainability will be lessened during a disaster. But right now my assessment is we would take a mean hit when the next disaster hits, ” said Barros.

Barros said you can be resilient by being prepared.

HIEMA recommends families have two weeks’ worth of emergency food supply because food insecurity is already a daily challenge for some, Barros suggests gradual prepping.

He added that those who already have their two week food supply should continue to stock up so that they can help others when disaster hits.