LĪHUʻE (HawaiiNewsNow) — Approximately 33,000 electric cooperative members remain without electricity Tuesday afternoon as utility crews begin assessing severe damage to Kauaʻi’s transmission and distribution grid caused overnight by Hurricane Lowell.

Widespread grid damage reported

Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative reported that the storm affected approximately 90% of its membership. Cooperative crews are tasked with inspecting and repairing about 1,500 miles of lines, a process utility officials warned will be extensive and could result in outages lasting several days or longer in some areas.

“Our first priority is making sure conditions are safe for our crews, emergency responders and the public,” said KIUC President and Chief Executive Officer David Bissell. “Right now, we need to understand the extent of the damage and what repairs are necessary before we can provide reliable restoration estimates.”

Utility officials urged the public to stay well away from downed power lines and always assume that any downed line is energized. Downed lines and other electrical hazards should be reported to KIUC or emergency authorities.

MORE:

• Contact KIUC at (808) 246-4300 to update your contact information and receive alerts.
• Link to Outage Center and FAQs

Water conservation and health advisories issued

The extensive power outages have disabled municipal water pumps and wells across the island. The Kauaʻi Department of Water issued an islandwide conservation notice on Tuesday, requesting that all customers limit water consumption to essential needs to prevent system-wide pressure drops and service interruptions while repairs continue.

Water outages, low pressure, or main breaks can be reported to the Department of Water at (808) 245-5400, or visit kauaiwater.org.

Additionally, the state Department of Health has issued an islandwide brown water advisory for Kauaʻi. Runoff has contaminated coastal waters, drainage outlets, and harbors with sewage, animal waste, and chemical debris. The Ocean Safety Bureau strongly advises the public to avoid swimming and all outdoor marine recreation until further notice.

Major highway and road closures

County and state road crews are working to clear debris and safely reopen several major thoroughfares. Portions of Kaumualiʻi Highway and Kūhiō Highway remain closed due to flooding, fallen trees, and downed utility poles. Current blockages include:

• Kūhiō Highway at the Hanalei Bridge
• Kaumualiʻi Highway between the Kala Road junctions and Akialoa Road
• Māluhia Road at Kaumualiʻi Highway

Public works officials are directing the public to stay off the roads to allow recovery vehicles clear access to damaged infrastructure.

Road and closure updates are available by calling (808) 241-1725.

Refuge areas remain open

As of Tuesday noon, 58 residents and one pet had sought refuge at the county’s five active shelter sites:

• Kauaʻi High School Gym, 3577 Lala Road, Līhuʻe
• Kalāheo Neighborhood Center, 4480 Papalina Road, Kalāheo
• Waimea Canyon Middle School, 9555 Huakai Road, Waimea
• Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, 2460 Keneke Street, Kīlauea
• Kapaʻa Middle School, 4867 Olohena Road, Kapaʻa

Refuge areas remain open. Anyone going to a refuge area should bring their own disaster supply go-kit, medications, and important documents. Household pets are welcome, though owners must bring their own pet food, water, and crates or cages. Do not travel to a refuge area if conditions are unsafe.

Severe impact on county facilities and services

All County, State, and Department of Education offices and schools are closed Tuesday, Sept. 11.

All County parks, campgrounds, and the Wailua Golf Course are closed until further notice.

All refuse transfer stations and all refuse collection services are suspended until further notice due to numerous road closures. The Kekaha Landfill is open for residents only. However, please stay off the roads if debris blocks your access to the landfill.

The Kauaʻi Bus has suspended service due to safety concerns. Buses had been supporting transportation to refuge areas.

All Department of Land and Natural Resources state parks and state forest reserves are closed until further notice.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility has closed its recreational guest pass program and recreational sites until further notice.

The state Department of Health has issued an islandwide brown water advisory for Kauaʻi. Stay out of floodwaters and ocean water near stream mouths, drainage outlets, and harbors, which may contain sewage, animal waste, chemicals, and debris.

The Ocean Safety Bureau advises no swimming or outdoor recreational activities until further notice.

Residents urged to document damage

Residents are urged to document and report residential property damage using the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency’s online assessment form to assist local officials in securing state or federal disaster relief funding.

KEY LINKS:

HONOLULU, United States — Residents of Kauai were warned to watch for tornadoes late Monday as Hurricane Lowell edged toward the westernmost Hawaiian islands in the US Pacific island chain, the National Weather Service said.

“Conditions are favorable for tornadoes in and close to the watch area” of Kauai, including the city of Lihue, NWS officials said.

The core of Lowell was expected to pass near or just west of Niihau late Monday or early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin at 5:00 pm (0300 GMT).

READ: Rare train of Pacific cyclones fueled by historic El Niño

“Dangerous conditions are expected for Niihau, Kauai and Oahu, with flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds expected from Lowell,” NHC said.

The center warned that the combination of a storm surge and tide would flood normally dry areas near the coast in Kauai and Niihau.

A tropical storm warning was also issued for the island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located.

The storm was expected to dump 4-8 inches of rain on Kauai, with 3-8 inches of rain forecast for the Big Island.

The storm was about 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu and moving north-northeast, the center said.

Lowell, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour), was expected to gradually weaken over the next several days.

The storm briefly reached Category 5 strength earlier this week.

Hawaii is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Lala, which grazed the southern part of the Big Island last month, bringing destructive winds and flash floods.

READ: Filipino community in Hawaii urged to stay cautious after Hurricane Lala

Lowell is one of two storms in the Pacific Ocean right now, where a near-record-strength El Nino climate episode warms the waters. Tropical Storm Marie, about 745 miles southwest of San Diego, was moving west away from land.

El Nino is the warming phase of a natural cycle in the tropical Pacific known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. It comes along every two to seven years.

The oscillating climate pattern promotes hurricane formation in the tropical Pacific while decreasing their likelihood in the Atlantic.

Climate change increases El Nino’s global weather impacts. /dl