Hawai‘i County continues to mitigate Hurricane Lala impacts; power outages, flooding persists
On Saturday night, Hawai‘i County officials reported a slight increase in shelter numbers from 130 to 140, and there were around five rescues of people from vehicles that got stranded.
Updated at 8:50 p.m. on Aug. 15
Hurricane Lala battered the Big Island all day Saturday as it skirted around South Point with heavy rain and winds that resulted in thousands of power outages and flooding throughout the North and South Kohala, Hāmākua, Hilo, Puna and Ka‘ū Districts.
On Saturday night, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said he called road crews back to base yards because conditions had become too dangerous for them to work. Shelter numbers had increased slightly from 130 to 140, and there were about five rescues of people from vehicles that got stranded.
There was one reported fatality following car crash in Ocean View.
“Trees are falling, electrical wires are getting to the ground level,” Alameda said. “Electrical wires plus water and a human being are not a good combination.”
Until the weather conditions improve, county crews will stay off the roads. “Right now it’s looking pretty scary out there,” the mayor added.
Alameda said the flooding has been significant, comparing it to Hurricane Lane, which impacted East Hawai‘i in 2018, in terms of the floodwaters.
As of 5 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that peak rainfall measurements over the last 12 hours are between 10 to 17 inches across East Hawai‘i
At 8 p.m., Hawaiian Electric reported that 63,270 customers, including all of the east side and south sides of the island plus Waimea and Honokaʻa, are without power.
Wind gusts near 90 mph have been recorded in some areas as the storm stalled over the island. On the Hāmākua Coast, wind-toppled trees knocked down multiple poles and structures along a 42-mile span of transmission lines, which will take time to inspect and repair once the weather improves.
With four of its independent power providers disconnected from the electrical grid on Hawaiʻi Island due to damage from the ongoing storm, Hawaiian Electric may need to “load shed,” meaning the company may temporarily turn off power to customers to maintain system stability and prevent damage to generating units.
Two of Hawaiʻi Island’s largest independent power producers, Puna Geothermal Venture and Hāmākua Energy Partners, as well as wind energy providers Hāwī Renewable Development and Pakini Nui, are also unable to connect to the island’s grid.
Alameda said the power outages are his biggest concern. No power means medications that need refrigeration can’t stay cool. Those who need oxygen tanks can’t connect to a power source. If someone has a landline phone, they can’t call anyone.
The county also relies on Hawaiian Electric to power pump stations for the island’s water supply and wastewater systems. Four of the wastewater treatment plants in East Hawai‘i are currently operating on generators.
Alameda said it is unsafe for Hawaiian Electric workers to conduct repairs with the winds gusting at 40 to 50 mph. The mayor said residents should be prepared to be without power for a while.
Alameda said he was impressed by the community, as most people have stayed off the roads and there have been few rescues.
“It has allowed us to do our job at the government level,” he said. “We have fewer first responders going out, risking their own lives to save somebody else. That has been a blessing in this very unfortunate situation.”
Hope Service Hawai‘i’s homeless outreach team was out in Hilo early Saturday morning offering rides to shelters, passing out hygiene supplies, food, tarps, rope, bungee cords, blankets and towels to the houseless community.
The team also tooke a man who was in a wheelchair to a county emergency shelter.
“Some people are choosing to remain on the streets because they feel safer in their current space, have belongings they cannot leave behind or prefer to maintain their independence,” said Director of Outreach Carrie Ho‘opi‘i. “Shelter rules and restrictions may also make them unwilling or unable to stay there, leading them to choose to ride out the storm where they are.”
In Waimea, there have been reports of flooding on Mana Road.
As of Saturday morning, Parker Ranch security patrols observed flooding in areas that are historically prone to flooding, along with several downed trees on Parker Ranch property in Waimea. Security and operations teams continue to monitor conditions across the Ranch and assess any impacts as the weather develops.
“The safety of our employees, animals, and the greater Waimea community remains our highest priority,” said Micah Kāne, President and CEO of Parker Ranch, Inc. “Our teams are keeping a close eye on conditions throughout the Ranch, and we are prepared to respond as needed.”
Parker Ranch encourages employees and community members to remain cautious, avoid flooded areas and downed trees, and follow guidance from County and emergency management officials.
Hawaiian Electric is working to keep outage maps and social media updated with information as it becomes available. Because of the dynamic nature of the storm system, outage numbers represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as additional customers are restored and more outages occur, sometimes in the same area.
“Our priorities for restoration emphasize safety and essential community services,” the power company stated in a news release Saturday morning. “Restoration will take place in a manner designed to affect the greatest number of customers first. Damage assessments must be completed before repairs and restoration can begin.”
