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Storm leads to numerous closures; impacts expected to continue through Friday

This radar image from the National Weather Service shows a strong storm moving over Hawaii on Thursday. The storm led to the closures of schools and county offices across Maui. Courtesy photo

Numerous closures cropped up across Maui County Thursday as a winter storm brought threats of damaging south to southwest winds, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across the Hawaiian Islands. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Maui County, along with a high wind warning, until noon Friday, and a flood watch is in effect through Friday afternoon. According to county officials, Maui County is partnering with the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center to provide emergency shelter for houseless individuals. The center's cafeteria opened ahead of the storm Thursday morning with amenities for 20 to 30 individuals. Maui Emergency Management Agency has been working with American Red Cross and other partners to identify shelters that can be opened in vulnerable areas should impacts warrant evacuation. As of midday Thursday, Jan. 30, all Maui County playing fields and stadiums, including the Waiehu Golf Course, were closed due to the storm, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Office of Recovery-West Maui at Lahaina Gateway was closed Thursday, according to the Office of Recovery. The county's recycling centers in Makawao, Kihei and Haiku are closed until further notice due to weather, according to the Department of Environmental Management. All Maui County offices were closed as of noon Thursday, and officials are assessing whether to reopen Friday. As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, no roads have been closed due to the storm. The county's Emergency Operations Center is in partial activation. Kaunoa Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program has been delivering nonperishable food to homebound seniors so they can be prepared for potential power outages. The public is encouraged to stay informed through credible sources such as the National Weather Service, the Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency and the Maui Emergency Management Agency. Sign up for Maui Police Department Road Closure notifications at bit.ly/MauiRoadClosure. For more information on emergency preparedness and to sign up for alerts from MEMA, go to mauicounty.gov/MEMA. All public schools under the state Department of Education in Maui County closed at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, under advisement from the Maui Emergency Management Agency. A decision will be made by 6 p.m. regarding Maui County school closures for Friday.

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