COURTESY NOAA
This satellite image shows Tropical Storm Moke a few hundred miles southeast of Hilo today. Hawaii County is opening several emergency shelters tonight before expected heavy rains from Moke start hitting the island.
Hawaii County is opening several emergency shelters tonight ahead of the heavy rain expected as Tropical Storm Moke passes to the south of the island Sunday,
Forecasters predict that Moke will dump 5 to 10 inches of rain on the island starting tonight, with 15 inches possible in some windward areas. They warn that flooding can occur quickly in areas with the ground already saturated from last weekend’s deluge from Hurricane Lala.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the island for tonight through Monday afternoon and a wind advisory for Kohala, Kau, lower Puna, and interior areas of the island through 6 p.m. Sunday, with 25-35 mph winds and gusts up to 55 mph forecast.
“Our county crews remain ready to respond, and we ask our residents to remain vigilant and be prepared for heavy rainfall and gusty winds as Tropical Storm Moke passes us to the south,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said in the news release. “The ground remains saturated, so be aware it may not take much rain to cause more flooding. We know residents are fatigued and still recovering from Hurricane Lala, and we want to thank everyone for doing their part to keep themselves and their neighbors safe.”
As part of storm preparations, the county’s Department of Public Works has cleared the Naalehu flood channel on Friday, officials said.
Shelters at Naalehu Elementary School, 95-5545 Mamalahoa Highway, and Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St. in Pahala, are operating with generator power and are currently open.
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County emergency officials say other shelters opening at 8 p.m. today include:
>> Pahoa Senior Center, 15-3016 Kauhale St., Pahoa.
>> Keaau Armory, 16-512 Volcano Road, Keaau.
>> Puueo Community Center, 145 Wainaku St., Hilo.
>> And Sgt. Rodney J.T. Yano Memorial Hall, 82-6156 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook.
Officials encourage the public to bring their own supplies, including food, water, sleeping bags, and medications. The shelters are pet friendly but pets must be kept in a carrier.