Emergency proclamation issued as Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lane’s impacts

Preparations have begun on the Hawaiian Islands as Major Hurricane Lane bears down with flooding rain and high winds late this week.

"Lane has the potential of bringing the state of Hawaii serious and perhaps record damage," said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Lane reached Category 5 hurricane strength on Tuesday night, making it only the second Category 5 storm to pass within 350 miles of the state in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service office in Honolulu. The last such storm was Hurricane John in 1994.

Lane is now a Category 4 hurricane, with continued gradual weakening expected as the hurricane turns northwestward just south and west of the island chain.

In anticipation of Lane, Hawaii’s Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday afternoon.

“This emergency proclamation will provide relief for disaster damages, losses and suffering caused by Hurricane Lane,” a statement on Twitter said. “The proclamation also serves to protect the health, safety and welfare of Hawaii residents and visitors.”

Ige said on Twitter that he is “urging residents and visitors to prepare for a significant impact.”

President Donald Trump also tweeted ahead of the storm's arrival.

On Tuesday, Hawaiians flocked to grocery stores to stock up on essential items, such as bottled water, ramen and toilet paper, according to the Associated Press (AP).

“People are getting ready, which is exactly what we want,” Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said via the AP.

Hawaiian Airlines began waiving change fees for flights to, from, within and via Hawaii on Tuesday. This waiver will remain in effect through Sunday, Aug. 26.

All public and charter schools on Hawaii Island and in Maui County will be closed for the remainder of the week, according to the Hawaii Department of Education.

All after-school activities and programs have also been cancelled.

All beach parks, from South Point north to Kohala, will be closed until further notice. All pavilion and camping permits for these parks have been canceled.

South Point Road from the Kamaoa Road junction to South Point is closed to all traffic, according to a Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency press release.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) advises that all boat owners in unprotected harbors from Milolii to Mahukona to take all measures to secure their vessels, including removal, if possible.

The U.S. Navy has moved all ships and submarines out of Hawaii, the AP said. Some of the vessels have been positioned to help with recovery efforts in the wake of the storm.

The Department of Education (DOE), in coordination with the American Red Cross and Hawaii County Parks and Recreation, have identified shelters in all districts that will be opened if necessary, according to the press release.

Hawaii Electric Light is pre-positioning workers and equipment at assigned locations in the event of power outages.

“We are closely monitoring Hurricane Lane and making emergency preparations as the storm approaches,” they stated on Twitter.

The worst of the impacts from Lane are expected from Thursday to Saturday, when the storm will be close by or over the Hawaiian Islands.

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