Hawaii is preparing for a potentially dangerous weekend as Hurricane Lala approaches the islands, bringing strong winds, flooding and the threat of landslides.
Hurricane Lala is churning right off the coast. It is a Category 1 storm, packing 80mph winds, and it is aiming directly at the Big Island. If it hits, it will be the first direct strike on Hawaii since 1992.
Jennifer Myers, a meteorologist who lives in Hilo on the eastern side of the Big Island, watched the water rise from her apartment window. The Wailuku River was already spilling over its banks.
“I’m looking at the river right now, and it’s really, really high,” she told reporters. She pointed out toward Hilo Bay, where the water had completely changed color. “The bay that’s usually blue is like blood red right now because of all the sediment and river water in it.”
The physical toll is already starting. Myers noted that trees are snapping and taking down power lines, while landslides have blocked off local roads. Nearly 37,000 people are sitting in the dark. At the airports, flights are just getting wiped off the board. Hilo International grounded 80% of its planes.
On local Facebook boards, people spent the early hours of the morning scrambling, filling bags with sand and asking if any grocery stores were still open. Governor Josh Green did not sugarcoat what is coming next. He told residents to prepare for “an incredible amount of water.”
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The National Weather Service is warning that rivers will rapidly overflow, and flash flooding could force sudden rescues in the middle of the night. On local television, a reporter stood in the driving rain, squinting into the camera. “It’s actually hard for us to see… I’ve got a lot of water in my eyes,” he said.
The last time a hurricane this strong hit the islands, it was Iniki back in 1992. That storm killed six people and caused billions in damage. The sandbags are stacked. The public shelters are open. Now, everyone is just watching the water.
