About Hurricane Lane
Hawaiians braced themselves as their precious islands prepared for the approaching Hurricane Lane that looked all set to wreak havoc once it crossed the ocean and struck ground. Many places had already seen considerable rainfall. Big Island, a prime tourist destination in the Hawaiian archipelago, famed for its tropical climate, colorful beaches, varied landscape and breathtaking valleys and vistas, had already received torrential downpours in excess of 31 inches. The National Weather service warned the public that fatalities could not be ruled out, considering the severity of the approaching environmental hazard. Flash floods were expected for the better part in specific areas on Big Island.
On Thursday, the 23rd of August, the president granted Hawaii an emergency status as a preparatory measure against the approaching hurricane. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had also been given the go ahead on putting relief, recovery and restoration measures into action. Emergency measures for Hawai’i, Maui, Kalawao, Kauai and the City and County of Honolulu were prioritized as these places are expected to be the worst affected.
Hurricane Lane had been slated as a category 3 phenomenon.
Categorizing Hurricanes
Hurricanes can be broadly classified into five categories.
- Category 1 – 74 – 95 mph
- Category 2 – 96 – 110 mph
- Category 3 – 111–129 mph
- Category 4 – 130 –156 mph
- Category 5 – greater than 156 mph
Although not catastrophic in nature, Category 3 hurricanes can cause a fair amount of damage and destruction to human and animal life, property and assets. They have the ability to disrupt structures that aren’t too sturdy. Substantial floods and mudslides can also be expected for sure. Electricity and water shortage can last for weeks together.
Hawaii for the most part has always been fairly immune to cyclones and hurricanes. This is largely due to three geographical factors the archipelago has going in its favor:
- All the islands in the Hawaiian archipelago form a consolidated land mass that is negligible in size. This makes it a highly improbable target for a landfall – when the storm makes its transit from sea onto land.
- Hurricanes are fueled by warm tropical waters that warm the air over the ocean’s surface forcing it upwards and creating a low pressure area below which attracts air from the surrounding areas. In Hawaii’s case, the surrounding water stays comparatively cooler during the summer months and warmer during the winter months.
- Rapid changes in wind speeds and direction – wind shears, as they are known – have always safeguarded Hawaii even from approaching cyclones.
In the year 2009, Hurricane Felicia seemed threatening at first as it approached the islands with speeds of 145 mph. But cooler waters softened it down considerably while wind shears put the brakes on it.
Similarly, in 2016, the impact of Hurricane Darby and Hurricane Madeline was restricted to storm surges, flash floods and heavy rain.
Preventive Measures
There are a number of preventive measures one can take in response to hurricanes. Agencies like the National Weather Service (NWS) identify such natural phenomena using modern weather systems and inform the local population well in advance, so one can count on a head start of at least a few days for preparatory measures.
- Installing storm shutters – A protective outer layer of steel or aluminum can shelter vulnerable points such as windows or glass doors in a house or building. Storm shutters also provide a great security measure for your home or establishment and this increases its property value.
- Securing the roof – Straps, bolts and fasteners specially designed to counter the onslaught of fierce storms can increase the overall stability of your building structure and minimize damage.
- Trimming trees and vegetation – Cyclones achieve speeds in excess of 100 mph and gather enough momentum to uproot even massive trees whose roots run deep. While cutting them down might not be feasible, regular pruning can help get rid of flimsy and unstable branches and offshoots.
- Stocking up on Emergency Supplies – Hurricanes can last for as long as two or three weeks while they run its course. Access to most basic items during this period would be cut off either due to shortage or excessive demand. Hence it is advisable to stock up on basic items such as:
- Food and Water
- First Aid
- Hygiene & Sanitation
- Protective Gear (footwear, gloves, jackets, blankets and so on)
- Money, Cards, Important documents
- Batteries, lamps, oil etc.
- Installing a safe room – In some cases, when the impact of strong winds is intense, installing a safe room can be a great investment. Safe rooms can be either residential safe rooms – that serve a limited number of people, or community safe rooms – that serve the needs of different types of organizations and the public in general.
Evacuations Measures
Evacuating the area becomes necessary in extreme cases. Even when one is able to survive hurricanes, resuming activity in the aftermath of the disaster can be quite tedious while basic necessities such as food, fuel, water and other materials are hard to access. But once the decision has been made, evacuation measures should be carried out with speed and the utmost of precision.
- One should look to evacuate only when explicitly notified by the local authorities via recognized channels of communications.
- If one is residing in a mobile home, then evacuation is almost inevitable.
- Depending on your property’s elevation, for example if your apartment is on the upper floors of a high rise building
- If you live right next to a large water body such as a sea, river, canal or backwaters that can increase the vulnerability of your dwelling or establishment.
Things to do
- Identify possible transportation options and evacuation routes well in advance.
- Cross check with Department of Transportation or Office of Emergency Management for fastest routes and other safety measures.
- Make sure in advance that your vehicle is in proper working condition and well supplied on fuel.
- Before evacuating, make sure that all electrical appliances, switches and other devices have been turned off and unplugged.