As we speak, Saturday July 25, Governor David Ige, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and officers from FEMA and a wide range of county companies and workplaces held a press convention immediately to debate preparations within the Aloha State for the impression of Hurricane Douglas. It’s presently a Category 1 hurricane, shifting west towards the islands and poised to wreak havoc as early as tonight.
As of 11am immediately, Oahu (Honolulu County) is beneath a Hurricane Warning. The distinction between a “Watch” and a “Warning” is {that a} watch means these situations are potential. A warning implies that hurricane situations are anticipated. Residents and officers are getting ready for storm surge, dangerously excessive winds, flooding, landslides. Shelters open tomorrow. Hawaiian Airways and others will probably be suspending companies tomorrow, Sunday.
The arrival of Hurricane Douglas comes on the heels of two straight record-setting days of latest COVID-19 instances and an uptick in hospitalizations in Hawaii. Mayor Caldwell mentioned immediately {that a} new cluster of instances that had been traced to sports activities bar is a think about a rise in each day caseloads that has tripled in lower than per week.
This was anticipated, not in contrast to Hurricane Douglas is now. We right here in Hawaii are eager on catastrophe preparedness. Simply ask anybody attempting to purchase rice, water, and bathroom paper when a tropical cyclone enters the Central Pacific. We’ve achieved the identical with COVID-19, and our caseload stays among the many lowest within the US. We’re masked up. We’re social distancing. We’re staying house. We see these items coming.
However the entire efforts on the earth can solely mitigate harm from circumstances past our management. That may be an airborne metal avenue check in 90mph winds in a hurricane. Or it may be a bunch of associates gathered three zip codes over to look at a sporting occasion with out frequent sense social distancing and masking throughout a pandemic.
Hawaii is presently beset by three disasters: pure (hurricane), public well being (COVID-19), and financial (file unemployment as a result of pandemic). One lucky coincidence throughout a time that looms misfortune is the truth that there may be solely a fraction of Hawaii’s regular summertime customer rely within the Aloha State as a result of pandemic. This frees area in emergency shelters and conserves assets wanted throughout any catastrophe, pure or in any other case. It tremendously decreases the opportunity of COVID-19 unfold.
Officers and pundits contend each day with the difficulty of what Hawaii tourism may appear like after COVID-19. There are excessive hopes and grim predictions. However with Hurricane Douglas bearing down on Hawaii, the extra essential query proper now’s “what is going to Hawaii appear like on Monday?”
We right here at Aloha Hawaii Journey are searching for solutions on the bottom, and we’ll replace guests right here on the weblog and on the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast so long as the lights keep on. For now, it’s secure to say that, on Oahu at the least, the whole lot is closed at the least till Monday.
Aloha, and keep secure!
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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