Kauaʻi Tracks 198 Hazards After Hurricane Lowell Cuts Power to 33,000
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 9
Kauaʻi Tracks 198 Hazards After Hurricane Lowell Cuts Power to 33,000
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 9
Summary
Nearly all of Kauaʻi remained without electricity Tuesday as officials began islandwide damage assessments after Hurricane Lowell, with only 486 customers restored by late afternoon out of 33,000 outages.
Emergency managers logged 198 active hazard reports — including downed trees, power lines, flooded roads, landslides and broken water pipes — while North Shore and Westside highways were left impassable by debris, sand and boulders.
Storm surge and wind tore up ports, roads and homes: vessels sank at Port Allen, piers were destroyed, Hanapēpē Bay’s shoreline road washed out, and residents reported roofs ripped off and trees crashing into buildings.
Lowell passed 90 miles northwest of Līhuʻe, avoiding a direct hit like 1992’s Hurricane ʻIniki, but still brought gusts up to 92 mph, nearly 16 inches of rain in parts of the island and surf above 25 feet.
Schools on Kauaʻi and Niʻihau will stay closed until at least Friday as crews inspect 1,500 miles of lines, outside workers arrive, and officials urge residents to document damage for possible federal aid.