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Residents prepare for Hurricane Douglas

Countywide ‘COVID-19 compliant shelters’ in the works, say officials

Marmac Ace Hardware sales associate Chris Lawrence surveys the Kahului store’s assortment of tarps Thursday afternoon. Lawrence said along with tarps, customers had been buying generators, watercoolers, rope, batteries and flashlights as Hurricane Douglas approaches the state. “It’s been kind of busy today, and I think tomorrow is going to be even busier,” Lawrence said. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

KAHULUI — Shopping for supplies spiked Thursday as Maui County and state officials urged residents to prepare for incoming Hurricane Douglas, which intensified by nightfall to a Category 4 system swirling in the Pacific Ocean.

“We are 20 percent above normal (sale) levels,” Tony Facemire, Kahului Costco Wholesale general manager, said Tuesday afternoon.

He said generators were sold out, and customers were scooping up water, flashlights, tarps, duct tape and “tons of batteries.”

At noon, lines for gas were about five to six cars deep at Costco pumps.

At Marmac Ace Hardware, sales associate Chris Lawrence said tarps, generators, watercoolers, rope, batteries and flashlights were being scooped up.

“It’s been kind of busy today, and I think tomorrow is going to be even busier,” he said Thursday.

While expected to weaken, Douglas could begin to impact the state as early as Saturday night with fuller effects Sunday and Monday, according to Anthony Joyce, the county’s Maui Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation specialist. Heavy rain, high surf and strong winds are anticipated, and residents are urged to prepare.

“There will be impacts to Hawaii in general,” Joyce said during the county’s special news conference Thursday afternoon. “The uncertainty lies in, will it be a little more north or a little more south?”

A hundred-mile difference in the track of the hurricane will have major differences in the impacts to Maui and Hawaii island, he said.

Douglas will be weakened by cooler waters and wind shear as it nears the Hawaiian Islands, Joyce said. He said Douglas still could be hurricane strength.

Anticipating Douglas’ arrival, Gov. David Ige on Thursday issued a pre-landfall emergency proclamation that extends through July 31 as the state prepares for possible impacts from Douglas. The proclamation authorizes the expenditure of state funds for the quick and efficient relief of disaster-related damage, losses and suffering that may result from the storm.

“Our top priority is always the safety, health and well-being of our residents and visitors,” Ige said. “Please take immediate steps to protect your families, loved ones, employees and property. We ask everyone to closely follow emergency instructions as we prepare for Hurricane Douglas.”

Meanwhile, county leaders were facing the unique challenge of preparing shelters during a pandemic, which will reduce each shelter to one-sixth of its normal capacity to ensure physical distancing. The American Red Cross has developed protocols for “COVID-19-compliant shelters” to include temperature and other health screenings, 6 feet of distancing among groups and designated areas for people who may have symptoms of the virus, Gordon Gillis, American Red Cross government liaison for Maui County, said during the news conference.

There are seven main Maui County shelter sites, mostly schools, and each has three additional shelter locations that can be opened as need arises, he said.

Because of COVID-19 rules, each shelter will hold only one-sixth of its pre-COVID-19 capacity, county spokes-man Christopher Sugidono said after the news conference. While he could not give an exact total capacity of all shelters, he said there will be enough space since each area offers expansion to other sites.

Sugidono also noted that the majority of people who have sought shelter in the past have been visitors. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said at the news conference that there currently are only about about 1,200 visitors on Maui.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said Hurricane Douglas had intensified into a Category 4 storm Thursday. At 5 p.m., the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Douglas had strengthened slightly with winds of 130 mph. Douglas was located 1,230 miles east-southeast of Kahului and was moving west-northwest at 18 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 30 miles from the center while tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 90 miles.

“Gradual weakening expected to begin on Friday and continue through the weekend. Douglas is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Hawaiian Islands,” the hurricane center said.

During the news conference, Joyce said the National Weather Service may issue a hurricane watch as early as this morning.

Wind and rain could begin as early as Saturday night. High surf is anticipated, especially on east-facing shores, where enhanced erosion could be caused by “damaging” waves, he said.

Joyce said residents and businesses should prepare their properties for strong winds and flooding.

Victorino said the county Public Works Department was cleaning culverts, drains and other areas that are susceptible to heavy rain and flooding. County officials also are looking at East Maui’s vulnerability to landslides and potential road closures.

Joyce said that confidence is “very high” that Douglas’ impacts will be felt in Maui County and on the Big Island. The uncertainty centers on whether its path will be more north or south.

“The bright side of the situation is that as the hurricane heads west northwest and enters cooler waters in and around Hawaii, this should weaken the storm enough that it will not be a major hurricane when it hits,” he said.

Victorino encouraged residents to prepare now.

“This is not one I want to trifle with,” he said.

* Matthew Thayer and Lee Imada contributed to this report. Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.

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