Hawaii is reeling after Hurricane Lala unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding, sweeping away more than 100 homes on the Big Island. Despite the storm failing to make direct landfall, it dumped up to 32 inches of rain, turning mountain slopes into raging torrents.
Governor Josh Green confirmed that while one individual died in a car accident, there were no other fatalities reported in the destroyed properties, a result he described as amazing given the scale of the destruction. The storm left over 200,000 households without electricity, forcing hospitals to rely on backup generators.
While the National Hurricane Center reports that the storm has since weakened to tropical storm status, warnings remain in effect across all eight major islands.
Approximately 180 members of the Hawaii National Guard have been deployed to assist in the emergency response, while airports have resumed operations following a temporary closure that saw 190 flights postponed. As the state begins the long process of assessing the damage, officials remain on high alert for lingering dangers.
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