Preparations for Felicia made, now where’s the storm?

Preparations have been made for tropical storm Felicia as it bears down on Molokai and the other Hawaiian islands. The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the flash flood watch for Molokai and other islands effective through Wednesday afternoon.

Although Molokai has only experienced intermittent rainshowers as of Tuesday afternoon, the flash flood watch continues. However, the tropical storm watch has been canceled along with the high surf warning for all east facing shores. A high surf advisory remains in effect until Wednesday morning.

To prepare for this storm, all Maui county campgrounds were closed by noon Monday, including One Ali‘i and Papohaku parks on Molokai. County-sponsored recreation programs were also canceled for Monday. Other closures will be based on public safety concerns from flooding, high surf, winds, falling trees and branches. Closures may also need to be extended to clean up debris and make safety assessments after storm conditions have passed.

All County of Maui parks, Waiehu Golf Course, County campgrounds and swimming pools are closed Tuesday. Facilities are scheduled to remain closed Wednesday; they will be reopened as soon as possible, according to a statement from the Maui County Mayor’s Office.

To help with the aftermath of this storm, Goodfellow Brothers has coordinated with the county to pre-position equipment around the island should their assistance be needed.

At Molokai Drugs, employees made dozens of phone calls yesterday to customers who have prescriptions on hold as well as the elderly and those at high-risk. Kim Svetin from Molokai Drugs asks everyone to have at least one month’s supply of medicines available. Molokai’s only pharmacy does have lots of medicine and first aid supplies on-hand, however they may be closed if the storm is severe. Call 553-5790 or 553-1605 (after-hours) to contact the drug store.

If emergency shelter is needed the Molokai High School gym and the Mitchell Pau’ole Center have been identified as evacuation shelters.

Bring an emergency kit with you to the shelter, including: food, prescription medications, water, pillows and bedding, flashlights, extra clothing, eyeglasses and personal hygiene items. For school and other closure information go to www.mauicounty.gov or call the Maui County Civil Defense and Traffic Advisory Line at 986-1200.

Category: News