Storm Impact and Evacuations

Tropical Storm Lala, which had previously been a hurricane, continued to bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall to Hawaii early Monday after brushing the Big Island, according to CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan. The storm’s eyewall, an area of powerful winds and heavy rain, passed near the southern portion of the Big Island on Saturday. Two homes were swept away in Naalehu during flash flooding, and an elderly woman was rescued from one of the homes, according to CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB.

More than 200 people were transported to hospitals by Honolulu EMS, authorities reported at a news conference, while all state and county offices, schools, and courts were closed on Monday as the storm continued to affect the region. The National Hurricane Center noted that Lala weakened to a tropical storm as it moved west but was expected to regain strength and become a hurricane again by Wednesday over open Pacific waters.

Government Response and Warnings

Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency to mobilize response teams and access federal aid, as reported by Kurier; Green urged residents to secure their homes and prepare for the storm. This marks the first time since Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that a hurricane has made direct landfall in Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Only two hurricanes have made landfall in Hawaii since 1950: Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992.

On Thursday, Lala was located approximately 700 kilometers southeast of the Big Island with sustained winds of 95 km/h, but a hurricane is defined as having sustained winds of 119 km/h or higher. Tropical storm warnings were issued for Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.

Broader Context of Hurricanes in the Region

While Lala was affecting Hawaii, other tropical systems were also causing damage in the region, but In Mexico, Tropical Storm John surprised residents in Acapulco, Guerrero state, on September 25 with an unexpected second blow, according to v.daum.net. The National Hurricane Center warned that John could regain hurricane strength and threaten coastal areas. In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm on October 28, causing extensive damage that will require years of rebuilding, as reported by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is providing grants for immediate needs and plans to support long-term recovery efforts.