With Hurricane Lowell’s latest track forecast to be more easterly as it passes the western Hawaiian Islands, Kaua‘i County officials say it’s likely that the Garden Isle and Niʻihau will see impacts of high winds, heavy rain with potential flooding and flash flooding, and high surf with a coastal storm surge.
With the Category 3 storm expected to now pass closer to Kaua‘i County than previously forecast, the county now is under a hurricane watch. For complete forecast, click here.
Lowell’s storm track currently shows it passing west of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i, however, the track can fluctuate, said Elton Ushio, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Administrator, during a press conference at the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency on Sunday
“The wind and the radius from the center where hurricane-force and tropical-force winds extend is a concern,” Ushio said.
David Hitzl, National Weather Service Emergency Response Specialist, said Ni‘ihau is going to be the closest to the center of the storm, where the island may experience winds of 58 mph.
Ushio said the county has reached out to the Robinson Family, the owners of Ni‘ihau.
“If they need any support from us, we will have an ability to respond,” Ushio said. “Hopefully they’re spared from the worst of it, but they are closest to the forecasted track.”
Ushio went on to say the Ni‘ihau community is resilient and they have hardened structures. They have radio communications with Kaua‘i and generator power.
In looking toward Kaua‘i, Hitzl said anywhere wind flows over the mountains, there will be acceleration over the terrain, especially in the downslope areas, creating tropical storm-force winds.
“We’re expecting the wind to start from the east and then move toward the southeast, so anywhere that’s downslope of there or any of the high terrain is really areas of concern,” he said.
Hitzl said the biggest threat Lowell poses to Kaua‘i County is surf.
“The surf is going to be enormous, probably bigger than anything that’s previously been experienced on the south shore for swells,” he said. “We’re expecting 1 to 3 feet of storm surge, somewhere in that region, but there’s also going to be run-up.”
There’s going to be at least 2 to 3 feet of what’s called run-up, which is when there’s so much wave action it doesn’t get any time to retreat back to the ocean, Hitzl explained.
With regard to rain, Hitzl said it’s likely the coastline areas of Kaua‘i will see 6 inches of rain. The higher elevations could see up to 10 inches, with 14-plus inches possible on Mount Wai‘ale‘ale.
Ushio said the county had performed or is in the process of clearing waterways that are prone to flooding.
He also noted during the press conference that none of the dams on Kauaʻi are at a level of risk or concern that it’s flagging any special actions. Staff will continue to monitor those structures.
Five refuge areas, or shelters, will be opening at 5 p.m. in different communities on Kaua‘i:
- Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, located at 2460 Keneke Street in Kīlauea;
- Kapaʻa Middle School, located at 4867 Olohena Road in Kapaʻa;
- Kauaʻi High School Gym, located at 3577 Lala Road in Līhuʻe;
- Kalāheo Neighborhood Center, located at 4480 Papalina Road in Kalāheo;
- Waimea Canyon Middle School, located at 9555 Huakai Road in Waimea.
Refuge areas do not provide bedding, cots or any supplies.
People need to bring their go kits with personal bedding, medication, food, water, toiletries and other necessities. All the facilities accept pets. But for the safety of the pets and the people staying at the shelters, and for sanitation, pets need to be crated.
Ushio said county buses will be available to transport members of the houseless community or campers to a refuge area.
“We’ve picked our best facilities, large capacity; we can house several thousand people,” Ushio said. “However, we point out to our lodging partners and the community as a whole that while our facilities meet best available refuge area or FEMA BARA criteria and sometimes higher standards, we do consider them as refuges of last resort.”
If the public has access to sturdy buildings constructed or renovated to code after Hurricane ʻIniki or otherwise hardened, Ushio advised taking shelter there as they may be a lot more comfortable and just as safe.
These structures could be a home or place of business.
“Our refuge areas will give you 10 square feet per person,” Ushio said. “If we get to surge capacity, it’ll go down to seven.”
Ushio said there are approximately 25,000 to 30,000 visitors on the island. In meeting with members of the hotel and the lodging industry, the administrator added that they are on board “to the greatest extent possible” to have their guests shelter in place at their facilities, and only if needed will they evacuate to one of the community refuge areas.
Visitors are advised to check with their airline to confirm flight schedules as there could be last-minute changes or cancellations.
“Historically, we’ve had challenges where the airport remains open, but individual airlines may close,” Ushio said.
As a result, it leaves visitors without a place to stay and stranded at the airport.
