Readying for Douglas

LIHU‘E — Ron Stover of Kapa‘a said he was trying to beat the crowd in preparing for Hurricane Douglas, Thursday morning in the already-filled parking lot at the Costco store.

“I’m doing this while I can,” Stover said, unloading containers of drinking water, snacks, and other drinks. “If I wait, other people will get everything.”

John Copeland watched in the filled parking lot, and agreed.

“You need to get ready,” Copeland said. “I’m going in now to get stuff I need. I already put gas in the car.”

The pair was among the steady stream of shoppers exiting the store with filled carts to an filled parking lot as Hurricane Douglas continues on a track to potentially affect the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. Just down the block, cars overflowed the Costco gas station with all pumps functioning, and across town, a line of shoppers compliant with COVID-19 face masks and social distancing, waited to enter the store.

The Salvation Army Hawaiian &Pacific Islands Division announced that they are prepared to respond with community assistance as needed as part of a team of agencies providing assistance during events and a member of the State of Hawai‘i Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

“The Salvation Army has an established presence on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawai‘i island, and we are ready to respond in our island communities as needs arise,” said Victor Leonard, the divisional director of Emergency Services &Safety for The Salvation Army Hawaiian &Pacific Islands Division. “During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs. Additionally, The Salvation Army uses 100% of all donations designated ‘disaster relief’ in support of disaster operations.”

The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve those impacted by disasters, however long that might take because they are there before, during, and following impact.

Beyond serving immediate physical needs, they also meet the emotional and spiritual needs that are unique to catastrophic events.

Officials in the County of Kaua‘i continue to monitor Hurricane Douglas, and reminds the public to prepare and remain vigilant as any shift to Douglas’s track could result in severe weather impacts.

“We are urging the public to remain vigilant and prepare for potential impacts from Hurricane Douglas,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami in a press release. “That means having a 14-day supply of food and water, and an action plan for your family. As we continue to also deal with this COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that everyone remain safe and take the proper precautions as this hurricane draws closer to the Hawaiian Islands.”

The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency whose Kaua‘i affiliation is the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency is also tracking the storm that is moving on a consistent track towards the Islands. HI-EMA suggests that now is the time for preparation to avoid long lines at gas stations, grocery stores, and Automated Teller Machines across the state.

“We advocate for a 14-day emergency kit recommendation because of Hawai‘i’s location in the Pacific during a disaster,” said Luke Meyers, Administrator of HI-EMA. “Everyone who plans ahead and prepares an emergency kit helps not only themselves, but they also help their entire community deal with a disaster.”

HI-EMA also considers the additional challenge of the storm in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ll be managing both incidents at the same time, but we urge residents to take into account that due to the necessary physical distancing measures put into place by the pandemic, shelters will not be able to operate at their usual capacity,” Meyers said. “Occupancy in shelters will be lower.”

Ruby Pap of the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program said evacuation planning is important.

“As we prepare for Hurricane Douglas, please help spread the word about how to prepare,” Pap said in a release. “Evacuation planning is important as folks will need to decide whether to shelter in place, or go somewhere else, whether it be a friend’s house or a shelter. The latest edition of the Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters (page 59, Table 3-4) is a valuable guide for this decision. It is based on the strength of your house (the handbook also suggests ways to strengthen homes in preparation for events). Other things to consider are if you are located in a low-lying area, near the shoreline or in a flood zone, as storm surge may be a factor. Please make your plan early as shelter space may be limited.”

According to the National Weather Service, the forecast at 11 a.m., Thursday anticipates that Douglas is expected to move near, or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. There is an increasing chance that strong winds, dangerous surf, and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state as early as Saturday evening.

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.