Hawaiʻi County prepares for Tropical Storm Moke, continues response and relief for Hurricane Lala

The County of Hawaiʻi continues to repair roads, restore water service, and respond to community needs following Hurricane Lala as it prepares for impacts from Tropical Storm Moke. 

Residents and visitors to Hawaiʻi Island are urged to be ready for potentially heavy rainfall and flooding starting Saturday night as Tropical Storm Moke passes just south of Hawaiʻi Island. 

A flood watch for Hawaiʻi Island will be in effect from Saturday night through Monday. Rainfall amounts of 5-10 inches, with isolated amounts as high as 15 inches, are possible with this storm on Hawaiʻi Island. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 4 inches are expected on eastern Maui. For the remainder of the islands, 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible. 

Because the ground remains saturated from Hurricane Lala, it won’t take much rainfall to cause additional flooding, County officials warn.

Disaster Relief

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense’s human services branch is coordinating with Vibrant Hawaiʻi and other community partners to distribute supplies at Points of Distribution (PODs) at locations around the island.

To make donations of supplies, call the Vibrant Hawai‘i Coordination Line at 802-365-1808. Monetary donations can be made to the Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund established by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation at www.hawaiiislandstrong.org.

On the roads, the Department of Public Works has restored road access to Wood Valley in Kaʻū. DPW continues work to restore Cane Haul Road in Kaʻū.

A multi-agency effort, in consultation with subject-matter experts and cultural practitioners, continues to recover human remains that were displaced from graves at Nāʻālehu Cemetery by flood waters. 

County officials continue to gather damage reports saying that every report counts. “Your reporting of damages will help Civil Defense to better understand the magnitude of impact caused by Hurricane Lala, and document it for potential recovery assistance,” Hawaiʻi County reports.

As of Aug. 21, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense has received 544 residential damage reports and 56 commercial damage reports from Hurricane Lala.