HONOLULU — The first hurricane to threaten the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is presenting new challenges to Hawaii officials long accustomed to tropical storms.
For example, how do you secure enough shelter space when people have to stay at least 6 feet apart from one another? What happens when someone shows up at a shelter with a fever?
Midday Friday, Hurricane Douglas was 785 miles southeast of Hilo. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane.
It’s expected to weaken as it passes over cooler water. But meteorologists warn strong winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous surf could afflict the entire state beginning tonight.
Douglas is expected to be either a Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm when it nears the eastern end of the state.
The National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for both the Big Island and Maui County, meaning hurricane conditions are possible in those areas within the next 36 to 48 hours.
The storm approaches as Hawaii grapples with increasing COVID-19 numbers. On Friday, the state reported 60 newly confirmed cases, its highest single-day increase since the pandemic began.
“I never thought in 30 years of doing this I’d be answering medical questions,” said John Cummings, the public information office for Honolulu Emergency Management, underscoring the odd position authorities have found themselves in.
Unlike other hurricane-prone states like Florida, where residents pile into cars to evacuate when storms approach, it’s impractical to leave Hawaii to get away from a storm. Shelter space is also limited.
So, as is typical, local authorities are urging most people to shelter at home if they can. Those living in homes built according to code after 1995 should be “pretty good to go,” Cummings said.
He recommended staying with friends and family if home isn’t safe. Going to a city-run shelter should be a last resort, he said.
At shelters, evacuees will have their temperatures checked for signs they may be infected with the virus.
