Hawaii prepares for new round of heavy rain and wind as state continues recovery from Hurricane Lala

Hawaiian Electric, the state's main utility, has been working to restore power to customers still affected by Lala's earlier passage. Crews are positioning equipment and personnel so that repairs and outages from the new round of weather can be addressed quickly, according to state planning documents cited in local coverage.

Cleanup continues across the islands

The state's emergency management agencies are coordinating with county officials on shelter capacity, road clearing and the staging of food, water and medical supplies. Green said hotel rooms are being set aside for residents who may need to evacuate low-lying or slide-prone areas, an approach the state has used repeatedly during repeated weather hits this season.

Forecasters tracking the approaching system warned that saturated ground from Lala's rainfall will leave the islands especially vulnerable to new flooding and landslides. Even moderate additional rainfall can send runoff into already swollen streams and overwhelm drainage systems that were damaged in the earlier storm.

Forecasters warn of heightened flood risk

On the Big Island, county crews and volunteers have been working to clear debris from roads and waterways in anticipation of the next round of precipitation. Officials in Maui and on other islands have similarly urged residents to prepare emergency kits and to stay alert for evacuation orders as the storm approaches.

Casey Oswant, a state meteorologist involved in the briefing, said the combination of high humidity, unstable air and an approaching disturbance increases the chance of localized downpours capable of producing flash floods. She urged residents to avoid crossing flowing streams and to report downed power lines to authorities rather than approaching them.

State seeks additional federal support

State officials acknowledged that responding to a new storm while still recovering from Lala will strain resources. Green said the state is asking federal partners for additional support and is prepared to activate the National Guard if conditions deteriorate.

The latest preparations underscore how vulnerable Hawaii remains during an unusually active hurricane period. With the Wahiawa Dam holding elevated water levels and the ground already saturated, even a less powerful system than Lala could produce significant damage, officials said, and they urged residents not to wait for evacuation orders before taking precautions.