Hawaii Braces as Category 5 Hurricane Approaches

The Big Island is currently facing a hurricane warning.

Satellite of Hurricane Lane (NOAA)
Satellite of Hurricane Lane (NOAA)

The Big Island in Hawaii is preparing for Hurricane Lane, a Category 5 storm, to make landfall over the weekend.

The “center of Lane will move very close to or over the main Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday,” NPR reports the National Weather Service saying. The County of Hawaii’s mayor Harry Kim has a declared a state of emergency in response.

Residents are taking the forecast seriously, preparing by stocking up on bottled water, ramen, toilet paper and other supplies as the storm looms. Flash flooding, landslides and “large and potentially damaging surf” are all anticipated by the weather service. Governor David Ige has already approved emergency funding for the damage that the storm will cause, NPR reports

“Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane,” Ige reportedly said in a statement Tuesday. “I’ve not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as I’ve seen with this storm. I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact.”

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