Hawaii’s Big Island is bracing for a rare hurricane landfall threat as Tropical Storm Lala approaches. The National Hurricane Center predicts Lala will strengthen to a hurricane before reaching the island this weekend, bringing heavy rains that can cause destructive flooding and strong winds that can fuel wildfires.
Preparations Underway
Officials and residents are preparing for the storm, with shelters scheduled to open and various events canceled. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for Maui County.
State Rep. Jeanné Kapela, who represents communities in the storm’s possible track, urged people to be on alert and take the storm seriously. The southern end of the island is remote and rural but growing in population, and Kapela is particularly concerned about people who live off the grid in unpermitted structures.
The National Hurricane Center predicts 8 to 12 inches of rainfall totals across Maui and the Big Island, with maximum totals as high as 25 inches in some spots on the Big Island. The center also warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
