Residents of Hawaii 22 years old and younger will be seeing the first hurricane landfall of their lives. For the first time since Category 4 hurricane Iniki struck the islands in 1992, Hawaii is getting ready for hurricane Iselle, which is just a few days ahead before hurricane Julio batters the islands.
A hurricane warning is in effect over the entire Hawaii County, while Maui is currently under a tropical storm watch. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPCH) of the National Weather Service says Iselle has strengthened with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and continues to barrel west northwest at 16 miles per hour. As of 2 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time, hurricane Iselle was located at 565 miles east southeast of Hilo in the Big Island.
"Iselle will pass near the Big Island of Hawaii Thursday night," says CPHC advisory as of press time. "Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours. However, Iselle may still be a hurricane as it passes near the Big Island."
Following Iselle just two days behind is Julio, which grew to a hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to hit the islands sometime during the weekend.
Governor Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation to release disaster funds in preparation for the hurricane. Honolulu authorities, meanwhile, advised residents to stock up on a week's worth of emergency supplies. A look at the long line of shopping carts in Honolulu's supermarkets shows carts filled with bottled water, batteries and non-perishable food items.
"With Hawaii's remoteness, it could be as long as a week before a full disaster relief operation can be initiated," says the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, which also advised residents to stock up on first aid kits, dust masks, maps, prescription medicines and a battery-powered radio for listening to weather alerts.
Iselle's biggest threat will be heavy rain, with some locations in the Big Island expected to receive more than 10 inches of rainfall in the next few days. The National Coast Guard also warns of storm surges up to 20 feet and flash floods from the heavy rain. Flash flood watch has also been issued for the entire state. Hawaii's higher elevations, where the mountainous terrain accelerates hurricane winds, are warned of strong winds with gusts up to 90 miles per hour.
"Before the arrival of a hurricane, consider moving to a home or shelter located in an area less exposed to the wind," says PHC director Jim Weyman on the center's website. "Remain indoors during the period of strongest winds since debris carried by the wind can become deadly missiles."
