On Sunday, officials in Hawaii prepared for the arrival of Douglas, a hurricane that was downgraded to a Category 1 but still had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.
Hurricane warnings were in effect for counties that include the islands of Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau, the National Hurricane Center said in a notice Sunday morning.
Hurricane conditions in those areas were expected within the next 24 hours, according to the center.
“Douglas will pass dangerously close to or over the islands today, bringing a triple threat of dangers, including but not limited to damaging winds, floods and dangerously high waves,” the center said Sunday.
A hurricane watch for the county that includes the island of Hawaii was changed to a tropical storm warning. As of Sunday morning, the storm was 145 miles east of Kahului and the west-northwest at 16 mph Douglas was expected to remain a hurricane as it passed through the islands later on Sunday.
Thirteen shelters were opened in Honolulu on Sunday, including the Hawaii Convention Center, which can house 1,600 people, with social distancing, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said at a news conference on Saturday.
Authorities have warned that space in shelters may be restricted due to social distancing policies. Hawaii Governor David Ige said authorities would control capacity at the shelters and open more if necessary.
The American Red Cross has about 300 volunteers to help manage the shelters, and those volunteers will receive personal protective equipment. Recruiting volunteers due to the coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge, said Maria Lutz, director of regional services for the Hawaii Red Cross.
In Honolulu, city workers were asked to volunteer to help out at the shelters, the mayor said.
“We understand the concern of these city workers,” Caldwell said, “and we are asking them as city servants to help with the need at this time.”
In a statement Sunday morning, the hurricane center stressed that residents should not focus on the exact path of the forecast or the intensity of Douglas.
“Due to Douglas’ angle of approach to the islands, any oscillation on the runway could lead to significant differences in where the worst weather occurs,” the center said. “Even if the center remains offshore, there could still be serious impacts on the islands as they extend far away from the center.”
On Thursday, Mr. Ige issued an emergency proclamation before landfall authorizing state funds for rapid disaster relief.
“We didn’t just focus on the wind,” Feltgen said of the storm on Friday. “You also have to look at the impacts of water on this thing. Very heavy rain.
Marie Fazio and Christina Morales contributed to the reports.
