UPDATE: Big Island Power, Road and Flooding Status

2013 flooding in Waiakea Uka. File photo by Nate Gaddis.

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• Click here for Friday, Sept. 2, 5 p.m. video update with Meteorologist Malika Dudley
• Saturday, Sept. 3, 7:30 a.m.: Holiday Weekend Forecast for Big Island
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• Click here for Hurricane Madeline photos from across Hawai‘i County

POWER STATUS

Friday, Sept. 2, 2:20 p.m.

Hawai‘i Electric Light has restored electric service to the remaining 20 customers in Pa‘auilo-Mauka who were affected by high winds from Tropical Storm Madeline.

Crews have been working since Wednesday to repair damage to utility poles and power lines caused primarily by fallen trees and branches.

Even after power is restored, small pockets of outages may occur. Customers who are without power and have not yet reported their outage should call the trouble desk to report it (969-6666).

Thursday, Sept. 1, 8 a.m.

Hawai‘i Electric Light’s business offices, including the Customer Service and Customer Engineering offices, will remain closed on Thursday Sept. 1, 2016. The Company will continue to address customer outages caused by Tropical Storm Madeline on Thursday. Customers may still reach the company to report power outages and downed power lines by calling its trouble desk at 969-6666.

All offices will be open for business on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.

During Wednesday, Aug. 31, an estimated 5,500 customers experienced power interruptions related to Tropical Storm Madeline. Employees worked to repair downed lines and broken poles, and remove trees and branches from power lines to restore power to customers. Nearly all affected customers have been restored.

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 100 customers in Pahala, Mountain View and Honoka‘a were without power.

Do not touch fallen or low hanging power lines or anything they may be in contact with. A seemingly harmless wire may still be energized. Stay clear of puddles where downed lines may have landed. Stay at least 30 feet away from a fallen line and call the Hawai‘i Electric Light trouble desk at 969-6666.

Even after power is restored, small pockets of outages may occur. Customers who are without power and have not yet reported their outage should call the trouble desk to report it (969-6666).

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 4 p.m.

Throughout the day, Hawai‘i Electric Light crews worked to restore power as quickly as possible to customers who lost electricity as a result of Tropical Storm Madeline.

As of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 235 customers in Honoka‘a, Kohala, South Hilo, Mountain View, Kurtistown, and Hawaiian Paradise Park are without power.

During the course of the day an estimated 3,600 customers experienced power interruptions due to the effects of Madeline, but HELCO crews were able to respond and make repairs to restore power to all but the 235 that remain out.

As the storm moves closer tonight, power restoration will be delayed until daylight to ensure crew safety.

The large albizia trees, which are prone to breaking and falling especially during storm conditions, pose a serious threat to HELCO personnel.

Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric are ready to assist with the restoration process, if needed, as are other utilities in Hawai‘i and the Western U. that are part of a mutual assistance group.

Hawaii Electric Light: 2,864 customers without power from Mountain View to Orchidland (beginning Wednesday a.m.)

ROAD CLOSURES, IMPEDIMENTS: Stay off the roads if at all possible.

Umauma Bridge on Highway 19 in Hamakua will close at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, with a detour on Old Mamalahoa Highway.

Closed as of Wednesday, Aug. 31

• Kamehameha Highway in Hilo between Manono and Ponahawai
• Lihiwai Street through Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo
• East Kawailani Street below Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo