Hurricane Lane dumps torrential rains on Hawaii
High winds and torrential rains from Hurricane Lane pounded Hawaii on Thursday, touching off flash floods, landslides and heavy surf as it spun toward the islands, prompting schools and offices to close as residents hunkered down to ride out the storm. Jane Lanhee Lee reports.
High winds and torrential rains from Hurricane Lane pounded Hawaii on Thursday, touching off flash floods, landslides and heavy surf.
Lane is still churning in the Pacific Ocean some 200 miles of Kailua-Kona and it’s still classified as a powerful Category 4 storm packing wind speed of 130 miles per hour.
And the latest predictions show the eye of the storm veering just west of the islands on Friday before turning back out to sea, but forecasters warned that the island could still expect to be hit hard by the erratic hurricane.
(SOUNDBITE) BROCK LONG, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR, SAYING:
“What is sure is that Hawaii is going to be impacted by Hurricane Lane. The question is how bad. Right now the system is setting up to be a significant rain event, torrential rains forecasters are predicting over 30 inches in some parts, you could see high amounts isolated.”
And even after the storm hits, the islands will still have to cope with four to five days with big winds, surf, and rain.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii County and the governor of Hawaii has urged residents to take the threat seriously and prepare for the worst by setting aside a 14-day supply of water, food and medicines. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency.
Some shelves at super markets were already stripped of canned tuna to dog food and bottled water. Still some residents too the storm in stride
(SOUNDBITE) HAWAII RESIDENT BLANE SUGANUMA, SAYING:
“This is Big Island, it’s rain, yeah, i live in rain areas all my life so, manoa over here kaulu, rain is rain.
This could be the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since another Category 4 storm Iniki hit Kauai island in 1992. That storm killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes.
The storm is the second major natural threat to hit Hawaii this year. In May, the Kilauea volcano began erupting, destroying hundreds of homes on the Big Island.
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