Rain, winds lash Hawaii; State braces for first hurricane ...
www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/...iselle.../13710929/
57 mins ago - Rain, growing winds and heavy surf lashed at the easternmost parts of Hawaii as the state braced Thursday for Hurricane Is
USA Today
Rain, strong winds and heavy surf lashed at the easternmost parts of Hawaii as the state braced Thursday for Hurricane Iselle to make landfall, the first such storm to hit the state in 22 years.
Airports remained open but flights were being curtailed as the state awaited a double punch from two hurricanes. American Airlines and US Airways canceled all flights leaving or going to the Big Island and Maui after 6 p.m. local time Thursday.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, facing a re-election challenge in Saturday's statewide primary elections, said Hawaii is ready for twin hurricanes, with the first due to make landfall Thursday evening and the second, Julio, tracking close behind.
He said the National Guard is standing by and state and local governments were closing offices, schools and transit services across the state. Emergency shelters were open statewide. Ports were closed across the state and cargo operations shut down. City bus service was halted in Honolulu and on Maui, though evacuation service was to begin Thursday evening on Oahu.
The eye of Hurricane Iselle was about 195 miles southeast of Hilo and 400 miles from Honolulu. It was moving at roughly 17 mph and expected to make landfall Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Hurricane Julio strengthened early Thursday into a Category 2 storm and was forecast to brush by north of the islands Sunday.
Nature provided a dramatic prelude: The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattled Hawaii's Big Island Thursday morning. There were no reports of damage.
"The worst of it will be tonight,'' Norman Hui, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu, said. "This storm is holding together pretty well."
Abercrombie said Saturday's statewide primary elections, including contested races for governor and U.S. Senate, will go ahead. But campaign events were canceled.
"I can assure you, as governor, that all campaign hats are off," Abercrombie said. "We are dealing solely and with the question of the health and safety of the people of Hawaii."
The twin hurricanes disrupted tourism, brought flash flood warnings and prompted school closures. Abercrombie on Wednesday signed an emergency proclamation allowing officials to tap into a state disaster fund.
"Everyone is expecting the worst, but I don't think it will be all that bad, I have enough supplies for the wife and kids so we'll be fine,'' said Steven Gavranic, a tourist from Sydney, Australia, who was fishing in the sun at Waikiki.
The American Red Cross pleaded for the return of its only emergency truck on the Big Island. Hawaii chapter CEO Coralie Matayoshi says the white Ford F-150 truck bearing Red Cross markings was stolen in Hilo Wednesday night. The organization will have to borrow or rent a truck as Hurricane Iselle approaches the island.
The Big Island was expected to take the biggest hit. The state hasn't seen a direct hit by a hurricane since 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes.
Honolulu is on Oahu, a smaller but more populated island that should avoid the worst of the storm, forecaster Hui said.
Long lines formed at some local stores, and bottled water and other hunker-down items flew off shelves.
Roger Acpal, a manager at a Costco near downtown Honolulu, said sales are brisk "but we are able to keep up with demand so far.''
"We got slammed as soon as the announcement about the hurricane came out," Acpal said. "Water, canned goods, generators and camping stoves were what people were buying."
Radji Tolentino, a Realtor in Ewa Beach on Oahu, said he grabbed the last box of batteries at Costco. The bottled water was gone, but he did purchase containers to fill with tap water. And he said he was glad his mother, a diabetic on kidney dialysis, was getting treatment Thursday.
"We are a little worried that the dialysis center might lose power, and she goes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays," he said. "But they gave us a diet to put her on so she should be OK in an emergency."
Hawaii is used to preparing for tropical storms _ stock up on water,
toilet paper and other essentials and wait. But actually getting hit
with systems like the two approaching the islands? Not as much. (Aug. 6)
AP
Hui said it's possible the Big Island's mountainous volcanoes could provide some buffer. Still, the island's population of more than 180,000 people could be in for a wild ride, with violent winds, heavy rain and flooding.
Hurricane Julio lurked more than 1,000 miles east of Hawaii, a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph. Hui said its current track sends it just north of the islands.
Contributing: Mike Tsukamoto in Honolulu; Associated Press
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