HONOLULU, Aug 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Torrential rain pounded Hawaii on Friday
as Hurricane Lane crawled toward the island state, triggering landslides and
“catastrophic” flooding, while forcing thousands to seek emergency shelter.
By mid-afternoon, Lane was located around 120 miles (190 kilometers) south
of the capital Honolulu, but had slowed its north-northeastward progression
to a pedestrian two miles per hour.
Experts worry the eye of the storm will pass dangerously close to portions
of the central Hawaiian islands later Friday and Saturday before turning
westward and away from the danger zone.
“Regardless of the hurricane track, life-threatening impacts will extend
far beyond the center position as Lane approaches the islands,” the National
Weather Center said.
“Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will
continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to
catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.”
Meteorologists have downgraded the system to a Category One storm, with
maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour.
A tropical storm warning was in place on Big Island, while hurricane
warnings remained in place for Oahu and Maui, the two most populated islands.
Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Operations and Logistics for
the American Red Cross, told a news conference more than 2,000 people were
sheltering in 45 evacuation centers.
“I would not be surprised to wake up tomorrow morning and see evacuation
center populations at or above 2,500 or 3,000,” he added.
– ‘Whiteout’ conditions –
Almost 25 inches (60 centimeters) of rain fell on the iconic Waikiki Beach
in the last 36 hours, forcing its closure as hoteliers and store owners piled
sandbags outside their businesses.
The mainly-rural Big Island — home to the still-erupting Kilauea Volcano
— has taken the worst hit so far, however, with more than 30 inches of rain
in about 24 hours.
Experts warned of “whiteout conditions” — steam loaded with particles and
toxic gases produced when lava hits cool moisture — as the storm hits.
“The hurricane should not have a significant effect on the eruption aside
from minor rockfalls at the summit and increased steaming from Puu Oo and
Lerz vents,” the US Geological Survey said.
“Whiteout conditions could occur on the new lava field due to steam
produced by heavy rain falling on still-hot lava flows.”
Meanwhile Brock Long, administrator for the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), warned of major disruptions to the power grid.
“Citizens need to realize that we are looking at major hurricane impacts
and things are going to break,” Long said.
“We need to set the expectation that the power could go off for quite some
time and the infrastructure is going to be heavily impacted.”
Residents across the state have been stocking up on water, food, gasoline
and emergency supplies as Lane drew nearer.
– ‘Destructive waves’ –
Sea levels were expected to rise as much as two to four feet (60 to 122
centimeters) above normal tide levels, causing coastal erosion and prompting
a storm surge and “large and destructive waves,” forecasters said.
United, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have canceled some or all
international and domestic flights.
The US Coast Guard says 57,000 US military personnel already stationed in
Hawaii are ready to provide logistical and medical support or conduct search
and rescue missions operations.
“Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane,” Governor David Ige said
in a statement as he declared a state of emergency earlier this week on the
Big Island.
“I’ve not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as I’ve seen
with this storm.”
President Donald Trump called Ige, the White House said, to offer support
and discuss preparedness and emergency measures.
“The president reiterated that the federal government is fully committed
to helping the state in the response and recovery efforts related to
Hurricane Lane,” the statement said.
Hurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii and the last major storm to
strike the state was nearly three decades ago, when Hurricane Iniki barreled
into the island of Kauai, leaving six dead and causing billions of dollars in
damage.
Federal officials have been working with Hawaiian utility managers to keep
a close eye on the power grid, a major vulnerability in Puerto Rico last year
when it was hit by Hurricane Maria, a Category Four storm.
Hurricane-related deaths in Puerto Rico have been estimated at as many as
4,600 people, largely because prolonged and widespread power outages and
washed out roads prevented access to health care, US researchers said.