Photo: MICHELLE BIR / AFP / Getty Images
Nearly 90% of residents on Kauai, Hawaii, remain without power following the impact of Hurricane Lowell earlier this week. The Category 2 storm brought damaging winds and heavy rains, with gusts reaching over 90 mph, before it was downgraded to a tropical storm late Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm caused extensive damage across the island, downing trees and ripping up roads. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported that almost all of its 35,000 members were without power. Emergency officials have urged residents to conserve water and avoid roads as cleanup efforts begin.
Rochelle Ballard, a former professional surfer, described the destruction, noting that waves had torn apart coastal roads and pushed sand and lava rocks into parks. Despite the devastation, Ballard remains optimistic, stating, "We’ve been through this before." Kauai's mayor, Derek Kawakami, said crews are working to clear debris, and about 300 people are currently staying in shelters.
On Oahu, road crews are clearing sand and rocks from highways after floodwaters topped coastal routes. Hawaii Governor Josh Green closed schools and government offices on the affected islands as a precaution.
Rainfall totals on Kauai could reach up to 24 inches, with other islands like Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island also experiencing significant rain. The storm's remnants continue to pose a risk of flooding and mudslides, according to KHON2.