30-01-2025
How Hawaiian Islands are prepping for severe storm weather
HONOLULU (KHON2) — As we brace for a powerful storm expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding, emergency officials across the state are taking no chances. At the same time, residents who experienced devastating floods in the past are growing increasingly clock is ticking as Hawaii prepares for potentially dangerous weather. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency is currently in a 'monitoring state.'
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'So not just normal operations, but with the hazard approaching, we are not only monitoring conditions but also working to coordinate with all of our partners on the front end,' explained Elton Oshio, KEMA Administrator.
With the 2024 April floods still fresh in the minds of Garden Isle residents, the county's public works crews are inspecting flood-prone areas and taking proactive measures. They've met with the Red Cross and the Parks Department to have emergency shelters ready if needed.
Kauai Island Utilities Co-Op is also on standby.
'They are closely monitoring weather and having their crews be ready to respond to outages as long as conditions are safe for them to respond,' said Oshio.
Hawaii County Civil Defense is on what they term an 'enhanced monitoring' level, ready to start at 6 a.m. on Thursday for around-the-clock activation.
'We've had our first operational briefing this morning, and then we'll come together again tomorrow and activate the EOC, as Hawaii Island is kind of going to be a little bit later than the rest of the state to start receiving any impacts,' said Talmadge Magno, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator.
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Emergency Management agencies on all islands tell us they are in coordination with state and federal partners and are preparing for school closures and power outages, evacuation plans and sheltering.
The State Transportation Department is on standby.
'When the storm occurs, if the county needs work in their areas, we'll do it,' said Ed Sniffen, State Department of Transportation Director.
Oahu's Department of Emergency Management is planning to activate at 5 a.m. Thursday, earlier if conditions worsen before then.
Meanwhile, on Oahu, some residents in flood-prone areas like along Kalihi Stream, are feeling a deep sense of deja vu.
'Intense, anxiety is building up,' said Leslie Awana, a resident at Hale Umi located on Umi Street.
'It's been almost 10 years since the impact of Tropical Storm Darby left several units at Hale Umi underwater.
'There was dead fish, dead rats, it was sludgy gross water, it was a bad thing. It took a lot of recovery time,' said Awana.
With another heavy rainstorm predicted, residents here say they're nervous.
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'Well, right now I've got everything hanging on the walls. And I've been doing it for the last 10 years,' Awana said.
Emergency officials said residents should be aware of weather alerts and be prepared with emergency plans.
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