Hawaii County to open shelters, cancel bus routes ahead of Tropical Storm Moke
HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii County is opening shelters Saturday as Tropical Storm Moke approaches the island with the threat of heavy rain, flooding and strong winds.
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As of 11 a.m., Moke was about 425 miles southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
Forecasters say windward areas could see 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 15 inches.
Officials said the threat is especially concerning because the ground remains saturated from Hurricane Lala, meaning additional flooding could develop quickly.
A Flood Watch is in effect for Hawaii Island from Saturday night through Monday afternoon. A Wind Advisory is also in effect for Kohala, Kau, lower Puna and interior areas through 6 p.m. Sunday, with gusts up to 55 mph possible.
“Our County crews remain ready to respond, and we ask our residents to remain vigilant and be prepared for heavy rainfall and gusty winds as Tropical Storm Moke passes us to the south,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said.
Shelters
All county shelters are scheduled to open at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Naalehu Elementary School gym and Robert N. Herkes Gym in Pahala are already open and operating on generator power.
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Other shelter locations include:
Officials said shelters are pet friendly, but pets must be kept in carriers. Residents should bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, medication and other necessities.
Transportation impacts
The following Hele-On bus routes will be canceled Sunday:
Officials warned additional delays, reroutes and cancellations could happen depending on weather conditions.
Access to Pahala and Waiohinu/Naalehu via Highway 11 remains limited to local and disaster response traffic.
County officials are urging residents in flood-prone or unsafe areas to relocate before storm conditions begin and avoid unnecessary travel.
Residents are also advised not to cross moving water on foot or in a vehicle and to continue monitoring official forecasts and Civil Defense updates.
Sign up for Civil Defense emergency alerts at bit.ly/HCCDAlerts.
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