Hawaii prepared for Hurricane Douglas on Sunday, with predictions of high winds, rain, and storm surges.
“It’s definitely going to be a triple threat,” said National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Vanessa Almanza, adding that the rain could be 5 to 15 inches.
Douglas weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday as it neared Hawaii, but authorities cautioned that people should not be fooled. The NWS said Douglas should remain a hurricane as it passed through the islands on Sunday.
“Douglas continues a gradual, slow and weakening trend, which in itself is good news, but the bad news is that this hurricane will get very close to the islands even as it weakens,” said Robert Ballard, a scientist and operations. officer at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
“And we expect significant impacts as it makes its closest approach point or possible landing as it passes.”
Oahu, home to the state’s largest city, Honolulu, was placed under a hurricane warning. Kauai and Maui were also put on warning status, while a hurricane alert for the Big Island was canceled.
Officials in Maui planned to sound warning sirens, alerting residents to either shelter-in-place or shelter in one of the seven shelters around the island. The hurricane was accumulating maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.
The NWS said parts of Maui would feel the first impacts of Douglas on Sunday morning, followed by Oahu at noon and Kauai and Niihau at night. Maui officials said they would assess the damage Monday.
“We know it is weakening as it gets closer, but it will still have a significant impact on each island,” said Hawaii Governor David Ige.
State health officials contacted each of the 625 people who are currently isolated or quarantined because they are Covid-19 positive or have been in contact with someone who is. All indicated that they would take refuge on the spot and would not seek refuge in a hurricane shelter.
“That gives a sigh of relief,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Hawaii has one of the lowest rates of coronavirus infection in the nation, but the numbers have increased. Every day since Thursday, Hawaii has reported record levels of new cases, including 73 on Saturday.
Caldwell said 13 shelters were to open around 9 am Sunday around Oahu, long before the hurricane. People must wear face shields to be admitted, and must wear them unless they are eating, drinking, or sleeping.
The storm occurred about 185 miles east of Honolulu, moving from west to northwest at 16 mph.
Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii, mandating federal assistance to complement state and local response efforts. Hawaiian Airlines canceled all Sunday flights between Hawaii and the mainland and between the other islands.
Ige said residents should have 14-day emergency supply kits, but because of Covid-19 he encouraged people to add masks, hand sanitizers, and sanitizing wipes.
.
