Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency Tuesday throughout the state because of the approach of Hurricane Lane.
As Ige proclaimed that all five of the state’s counties shall be considered disaster areas until Aug. 29, the state Department of Education closed all public schools on Hawaii Island and Maui until further notice and canceled all after-school activities throughout the state until Monday.
“This emergency proclamation allows us to line up services and necessary resources prior to the event so that we can keep our communities safe and running as efficiently as possible,” said Ige in a statement. “Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane. I’ve not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as I’ve seen with this storm. I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact.”
Ige also granted administrative leave to all nonessential state employees, closing state offices and all University of Hawaii campuses and nonessential operations today through Friday. However, departmental emergency coordinators, disaster response workers, and employees whose work involves continuing crucial operations and service are still required to report to work.
The storm’s unusual path took it south of the Big Island Tuesday, traveling largely westward until it turned northwest toward the state. The center of the storm is expected to come close to or pass over the islands from Thursday to Saturday.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lane was located about 365 miles south of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 9 mph, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 155 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service placed Hawaii County under a hurricane warning — indicating 36 hours until the storm’s arrival — at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The NWS predicted the storm would turn more to the northwest today, then to the north-northwest on Thursday as its speed diminishes. As the storm moves toward the state, it will drag extremely moist tropical air across the islands.
“Once this occurs, it’s game on for the possibility of intense, flooding rainfall,” said a NWS statement.
Hawaii County Managing Director Will Okabe said the west side of the island seems poised to take the brunt of the storm’s force, but added that Lane’s path can change at any time.
“The number one thing to do is: Don’t panic,” Okabe said. “Stay tuned to (Hawaii County) Civil Defense, to your radios, to your TVs.”
Okabe said the county will establish an emergency operations center in Kona and will open emergency shelters around the island. The county will assess whether to close county offices today, Okabe said.
The NWS advised residents of a litany of potential hurricane-related hazards that can extend far from the center of the storm.
In particular, tropical storm force winds might occur on the Big Island as early as this afternoon and evening, with hurricane force winds possible by tonight.
Hurricane force winds, which extend up to 40 miles outward from the storm center, can be life-threatening, possibly causing structural damage to even sturdy buildings, and possibly destroying more fragile structures. Wind-borne debris — which can include uprooted trees — can block roadways, sever power and communications networks and cause further damage to structures.
Intense rainfall and thunderstorms likely will continue today and through the rest of the week on the Big Island. Rainfall can trigger flash flooding, even in areas not usually prone to flooding, as well as landslides and mudslides. Total rainfall amounts of more than 20 inches are possible, the NWS said.
High surf swells also are anticipated around the Big Island. South-facing shores of the island were placed under a high surf warning Tuesday afternoon.
The hurricane also can generate tornadoes and waterspouts, which can cause even further wind damage. According to the NWS, potential tornadoes are more likely to be generated “along and to the right of the track of the hurricane.”
In the face of the storm, residents are urged to listen for potential evacuation orders from officials and be ready to evacuate quickly if ordered to do so. Residents in low-lying areas should make plans to seek shelter elsewhere.
Residents are urged to have an emergency supply kit ready and be aware of evacuation routes ahead of time.
“Everyone needs to prepare for the worst, but hope for the best,” Okabe said.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.