Storm-Battered Hawaii Faces Torrential Rain, Mudslide Threat
Hawaii’s Big Island is preparing for another round of flooding rain, roughly a week after Storm Lala washed out roads and damaged parts of the electrical grid.
Another five to 10 inches of rain are expected through the weekend, with as much as 15 inches in some parts of the Big Island, according to an update from the US National Hurricane Center. The system is forecast to reach tropical-storm strength Friday, when it would be assigned the name Moke.
The rainfall “may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala,” forecasters Cole Evans and Alex Gibbs wrote.
Storm Lala left two people dead and dropped multiple feet of rain as its winds battered the Big Island and Oahu last weekend. More than 250,000 homes and businesses lost power, with roughly 11,600 customers still offline as of early Friday.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency urged residents and businesses in an X post on Thursday to prepare for a slew of hazards as the next storm approaches, including worsening power outages and a potential loss of communications.
“Residents should follow official updates, review their emergency plans and take practical steps now to protect their families,” Stephen Logan, the state adjutant general, said in a statement Thursday. “Early preparation gives our communities the best chance to stay safe.”
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