Preparing for Hurricanes in Hawaii

Hurricane Flossie, forecast to skirt barely to the south of the Hawaiian Island chain, is still causing an impact. Surf on the Big Island, furthest to the south and first on the list of sites for the hurricane to impact, is already heavy; there is little evacuation and no panic, as few people live on the coasts that are directly contacted by the hurricane.

As Flossie makes her slow way up the south side of the chain, residents are advised to stock up on essentials like water, canned food, and batteries. There may be little impact, but the hurricane only has to shift a degree or two to the north to make a direct hit on the south shore of Oahu, where Honolulu and Pearl Harbor are located and where I live.

Preparations for hurricanes when you live on an island are necessarily a little different from those on the mainland. For one thing, there's nowhere to go if you're going to receive a direct hit. Residents are smartest to board up windows and ride it out. For another, if you receive a direct hit on Hawaii, a five-hour plane flight to any major land mass, you're stuck with the supplies you currently have, and the stores are unable to restock quickly.

Recommendations for hurricane preparations in Hawaii are as follow:

* Stock up on bottled water.
* Start eating food in your freezer and refrigerator
* Stock up on canned goods, and make sure you have a can opener
* Fill your gas tank
* Make sure your flashlight is in order
* Find your emergency-band radio
* Buy extra batteries for flashlight and radio
* Prepare a first-aid kit
* Make sure you have blankets and extra clothing ready; if the hurricane looks bad, pack your clothes in case you have to evacuate

My recommendations, in addition to those above, are:

* Wash and dry all your dirty clothes; if the power goes out, there's no telling how long it will take them to fix it in your area.
* Buy disposable plates and plastic spoons. You may have trouble with running water, and it's much more pleasant to toss the food trash than to let the dishes pile up in the sink.
* If you have a grill, stock up on fuel and secure it somewhere it won't be damaged in the storm -- indoors if necessary. That grill may be your only way to cook for a while if the power goes out.
* Check with the school about hurricane closures. Since the schools in Hawaii are rarely closed, few people are familiar with their procedures.
* If you're in a low-lying area or anywhere water drains slowly, make sure anything that could be water-damaged is at least two feet off the ground if at all possible. Even if you don't take a direct hit from the storm, the heavy rains can cause a sudden flash flood.
* Again, if there is a flash flood you have nowhere to evacuate to, so have a plan for this eventuality.
* Wind in Hawaii is frequently powerful, and a hurricane will make it unpredictable. Secure anything that might blow away in very strong winds, either with a chain or by bringing it indoors.