HNN Special Offers “First Alert Hurricane Season” with preparation tips and expert advice

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hurricane Dora did not come close to Hawaii in 2023. Its center was still about 700 miles south when it made its closest approach to Hawaii.

Still, the cyclone taught Hawaii painful but very important lessons about the impact a hurricane can have on the islands. And now, as the 2024 hurricane season begins, those lessons are being used to prepare for future storms – and to learn how to recover from them.

The Central Pacific hurricane season began on June 1.

National Weather Service meteorologists are predicting “below average” activity.

At the same time, they warn that a single hurricane is enough to leave a trail of devastation. And with the example of Hurricane Dora still fresh in everyone’s mind, they stress the importance of preparing for all types of storm hazards – from heavy rains to strong winds.

Before the August 8 wildfires that destroyed the town of Lahaina and claimed more than 100 lives, the National Weather Service issued a nationwide fire warning.

One lesson from Lahaina is that meteorologists can now better focus on the impacts that strong winds and dangerous dryness can have in more specific areas.

Of particular concern are the areas of West Maui and the windward areas of Oahu and Hawaii Island.

HNN Hurricane Center

“What we’re doing better this year at the National Weather Service is the ability to accurately predict where the wildfire warnings will occur,” James Barros, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told HNN First Alert’s weather team.

“At the time, it was more of a general warning signal for the state to keep an eye on the bigger picture.

“I think we’ll be better prepared this year because we’ll be able to accurately predict and determine these high winds and these warning signal conditions,” he said.

National Weather Service meteorologists had already been working with HI-EMA and other emergency management agencies, as well as other first responders across the state, but another lesson learned is that citizens need to be better informed about what to do when fire threatens.

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“What we discovered in 2023 is that wildfires affect everyone,” said John Bravender, warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS forecast office in Honolulu. “I was our first experience with a wildfire that destroyed a city. And since then, we’ve had to learn how to communicate those dangers not only to first responders but also to the public.”

Even without the threat of fire, the strong winds fueled by Hurricane Dora caused other types of damage to buildings and infrastructure.

“There weren’t even hurricane-force winds. It was just below hurricane strength,” Barros said.

He added: “What damage will our infrastructure suffer when there are stronger winds? And what can we do now to build that resilience so our state can withstand some hurricane-force winds?”

What withstood the storms was the people who came together to help Maui after the wildfire. That is important if another disaster occurs, said Barros.

“We’re trying to learn the lessons from Lahaina on August 9th and see how the community came together and supported each other,” Barros said. “How can we capture that energy, that aloha that’s now going across the state and learn from what they went through?”

At the same time, authorities are working to warn the population about other types of hurricane risks, including storm surges. The strong winds of a cyclone can push enormous amounts of seawater onto the coast, causing widespread flooding and often irreparable damage.

Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to storm surges because of its low-lying cities and shallow surrounding reefs. A small hurricane could still cause a storm surge several feet high.

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