Getting ready: Hawai‘i County crews, residents prep for second Kona low storm expected Thursday

After days of rain, Hawai‘i County crews are taking advantage of the first bit of sunshine to prepare for a second Kona low storm expected to arrive Thursday on the Big Island.

On March 14, several inches of rain and damaging winds upended pavement, toppled trees, flooded homes and left boulders and debris on major roadways in the Kona and Ka‘ū Districts.

Wednesday morning, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the county workers are “doubling down” to remove as much debris as possible to clear culverts and roadways.

Matt Foster, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said Wednesday morning the next Kona low will start developing Thursday afternoon with potential flooding by Thursday night.

“It will be another four days of active weather, depending on where those bands (of moisture) set up,” Foster said.

Currently, there are no road closures and transfer stations have expanded hours to ensure residents can get rid of trash ahead of the incoming storm.

Hawai‘i County will be distributing ice, water and food at the Billy Kenoi Sports Complex in Pāhoa from 1 to 3 p.m. to residents impacted by last weekend’s storm.

County Parks and Recreation reports all beach parks are open today except for Spencer Beach Park, which will remain closed.

Christine Inserra, a Ka‘ū resident, said she is cleaning mold off the walls, clearing palm fronds from the wind and other debris from her yard ahead of the second Kona low. The winds and rain on March 14 flooded Route 11 in front of her home and beneath her post-and-pier home.

Talmadge Magno, administrator with the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, said the county is preparing for a storm with similar rainn to the last one to impact Puna, Ka‘ū and Kona districts. But this upcoming system isn’t expected to have the same strong winds.

However, Magno said with the ground already saturated from the previous Kona low, flooding could happen faster.

Power restoration is ongoing after thousands were left in the dark following the March 14 Kona low. Overnight and early this morning, Hawaiian Electric restored power to more than 1,500 customers across Maui County, Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu.

Power was restored to about 340 customers overnight on Hawai‘i Island. But Hawaiian Electric said about 2,400 customers remain without power in various areas around the island from Kapoho, Royal Hawaiian Estates, Mountain View, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchid Isle Estates, Wright Road, and various pocket outages in North and South Kona.

Damage assessments and tree clearing continue. In the hardest hit areas, repairs have been slowed by fallen trees and debris blocking roads. Tree trimming crews have been working to clear trees in the Puna area since Sunday.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to report storm damage to the county here.