Department of Education schools, county and state offices to be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8

Due to expected impacts from Hurricane Lowell, public schools on Kauaʻi, County of Kauaʻi offices, and State of Hawaiʻi offices on Kauaʻi will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

“The safest place for our families tomorrow is at home,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “We are closing our schools and our offices so that no parent has to choose between a paycheck and getting their keiki home safely, and so our crews can do their jobs on clear roads. Kauaʻi has been through storms before, and we have always come through them by looking out for one another. Please finish your preparations, stay off the roads and out of the water today, check on your kupuna and your neighbors, and follow official information only. Mahalo to everyone who has already done the work to get ready. Let’s take care of each other and get through this together.”

The closures are intended to keep students, employees, and families off the roads while conditions are at their worst, and to allow first responders and field crews to work without added traffic.

“Kauaʻi County is most vulnerable to Hurricane Lowell, and we are not going to take chances with people’s safety,” said Gov. Josh Green. “Closing schools and state and county offices on Kauaʻi and Ni‘ihau tomorrow is the right call, and the state remains fully supportive of Mayor Kawakami and the county’s emergency management team. We encourage residents of Kaua‘i County to stay home, stay off the roads and out of the water, and look after your neighbors and kūpuna. We will get through this together, and the state will be there to help you recover.”

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Kauaʻi County. The National Weather Service expects the strongest winds, heaviest rainfall, and most dangerous ocean conditions Monday night into Tuesday morning, with hazardous conditions continuing through Tuesday.

Public safety reminders

• ​Stay off the roads. Downed lines, flooding, and debris can appear without warning, and standing water may be deeper and faster-moving than it looks.
• ​Stay out of the water. Surf and currents will remain extremely dangerous around the island.                                                                              
• ​Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades.
• ​Treat every downed power line as live and report it to the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.
• ​Be prepared to be without power, and have a plan for anyone in your household who relies on electricity for medical needs.

Other important numbers and resources:

• ​Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency: www.kauai.gov/KEMA
• ​National Weather Service: weather.gov/hfo or 808-245-6001
• ​Kauaʻi Department of Water: 808-245-5400 or kauaiwater.org
• ​Road and closure conditions: 808-241-1725

For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call the Kauaʻi Police Department Dispatch at 808-241-1711.

For ocean safety information, please visit safebeachday.com or call the Kauaʻi Fire Department’s Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.

To receive emergency notifications from the County of Kauaʻi through Everbridge, please visit www.kauai.gov/kema and click on “Notification Services.”