Kaua‘i residents ramped up supplies over the weekend to secure their safety and protect their homes from the first serious threat this storm season. At 5 p.m. yesterday, Flossie was 665 miles east-southeast of Hilo, and had maximum sustained wind
Kaua‘i residents ramped up supplies over the weekend to secure their safety and protect their homes from the first serious threat this storm season.
At 5 p.m. yesterday, Flossie was 665 miles east-southeast of Hilo, and had maximum sustained wind near 135 mph with gusts reaching 161. It was traveling west at about 14 mph.
“It sounds like Hurricane Flossie will pass us by, but if you’ve ever been in a hurricane before you take it more seriously,” Wailua Houselots resident Dara Fugett said.
The hurricane was expected to pass about 70 miles south of the island of Hawaii late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but by then cooler water should weaken it to a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of at least 74 mph.
But even a slight change of course in the unpredictable storm could bring it closer to land.
Two Air Force WC-130 hurricane tracker aircraft were dispatched from Mississippi and flew into the storm to gather measurements yesterday afternoon, said Roy Matsuda, lead forecaster at the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service.
“The weakening process looks much slower. It will keep more of its juice,” Matsuda said. “It won’t be a tropical storm. It’ll be a weak or minimal hurricane.”
Meanwhile, Kaua‘i residents bought thousands of dollars worth of plywood, water, batteries and electric generators from local retail stores.
“Whether or not this hits as a hurricane or dissipates, we have always wanted to have some plywood on hand for our windows,” Fugett said. “The $200 investment is a good idea. … For Hurricane Iniki, when we put up plywood it really helped to reduce damage.”
In Lihu‘e, Home Depot Specialty Assistant Opapo Leausa said the store sold out of generators Sunday morning.
Chuck Reed tried to buy the store’s last generator left of a particular model, but due to a missing part had to place his order on hold until the next shipment arrives later this week. Generators at the store ranged in price from $90 to $1,000.
After thinking for a long time about buying a generator in case of a major storm, the Hanalei resident said reports of Hurricane Flossie finally pushed him to go buy one.
Even though the eye of the storm may miss the Hawaiian islands, Flossie could still bring strong wind and heavy rain to the islands, forecasters said.
Officials urged residents to be aware of the risk. “Everyone in the Hawaiian Islands is urged to continue monitoring the progress of Hurricane Flossie,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in a statement. “A northward shift in the track could potentially bring hurricane conditions to the Big Island.”
Emergency workers mobilized yesterday afternoon to prepare for the potentially devastating hurricane, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim said.
“You always prepare for the worst-case scenario and hope for the best,” Kim said.
The southeastern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii could see waves of 8 to 12 feet, forecasters said, with the surf rising during the day Monday and peaking Tuesday.
At Nukumoi Surf Shop in Po‘ipu, South Shore surfer Justin Matheny said he looks forward to riding some “super sick” swells the storm may produce. “I just want to have fun … but not drown,” he said.
On Kaua‘i, the National Weather Service forecast Flossie to pass south of the island Tuesday night and Wednesday. Winds and showers are expected to increase as early as today.
Scattered showers, with high temperatures in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-70s are forecast through the week.
Kaua‘i County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said civil defense agencies held a meeting yesterday afternoon regarding the storm. “Everybody is preparing for it,” she said.
When Hurricane Iniki hit in 1992, Fugett said the National Guard responded within a few days, making the supply of food “not a big deal.”
“It’s water, batteries for flashlights and plywood to protect your homes that are needed,” she said.
Getting prepared
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center Web site states that when a hurricane or tropical storm threatens, preparations should include:
• Securing loose outdoor objects that might be blown away by high winds, and become flying debris.
• Boats should be moored securely, or moved to a designated safe area well before the storm arrives.
• Windows should be boarded up. Larger windows may be broken by wind pressure, while smaller windows are mainly damaged by wind driven debris.
• If requested to evacuate, be sure to take your survival kit when leaving for safety. Keep in mind that evacuation routes may become flooded or cut off, even before the full force of the hurricane or tropical storm strikes.
For more information, visit www.noaa.gov, tune in to radio station KBA99 or call the National Weather Service forecast hotline for Kaua‘i at 245-6001.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.
