Hurricane Lowell preparations on Kauai evoke memories of Iniki
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Government and emergency officials across Hawaii are continuing to monitor Hurricane Lowell, which is projected to potentially take a sharp turn toward the northern end of the islands in the coming days.
Read more First Alert Forecast: Lowell is south of the islands as a powerful hurricane; when will it turn
The storm comes a little more than a week before the 34th anniversary of Hurricane Iniki, which deviated from its path and slammed Kauai with category 4 force gusts topping 200 miles an hour.
Lasting lessons of Iniki
Iniki took seven lives and caused more than $3 billion in damage on the Garden Isle.
More than three decades later, Iniki’s impression on isle residents has not faded, leaving lasting lessons.
“I was awoken to sirens and my dad saying, ‘Hey, we got to get to the grocery store and you got to help bag groceries.’ And I just remember the look on people’s faces as they were making last minute preparations,” Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami recalled.
With the potential for Lowell to hook toward Kauai as Iniki did, Kawakami is asking residents to ready themselves just in case.
“It’s still early on and we’re looking at different weather models, but we’ve been just communicating constantly about people having the necessary items that they feel they’re going to need,” Kawakami said.
County personnel pre-positioned heavy equipment in flood-prone areas, Kawakami added.
First responders prepare; residents urged to do the same
“For our first responders, of course, our fire department is going to be embedding in communities that are isolated, and it’s all hands on deck approach,” he said.
The National Weather Service has also been briefing state and county officials every morning, “assuring mayors that anything that we need, they’re a phone call away. And so they’re all engaged,“ according to Kawakami.
Read more Supreme Court justices weigh special election in controversial District 43 race
Besides stocking up on supplies, Kawakami suggested as Lowell nears, residents fill their sinks and bath tubs with water in case it is needed.
But above all, the mayor is encouraging folks to prepare, and not panic.
“That usually does not tend to good results and clear thinking. So we’re just telling people to just stay calm, factor into things within their control, try not to worry too much about things out of their control,” Kawakami said.
National Guard activated
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, state adjutant general and director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), said there are 129 Hawaii National Guard members activated across the islands in preparation for Lowell.
Logan added that on Thursday, some of the airmen and soldiers could be relocated to Kauai.
In addition to the personnel, Logan said more heavy equipment could be sent to the Garden Isle, including high water team vehicles used in the Kona Low storms.
The vehicles are able to take first responders into flooded areas and evacuate residents.
“I can tell you right now that your Hawaii National Guard is prepared and postured. We’ve been through this, like I said, with the Kona low storms, recently with Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke. We have the capacity, we have the flexibility to be able to add to the areas that are most impacted,” Logan said.
“We have 5,600 throughout the state. So there’s a lot more that we can draw upon should the situation become necessary,” he added.
Logan said officials will decide how many Hawaii National Guard members to send to Kauai after a meeting with the National Weather Service on Thursday morning.
Post Comment