MEDIA RELEASE

Kamehameha Avenue flooded and closed in Hilo. Baron Sekiya Photo | Hawaii 24/7

This is a Tropical Storm Madeline update by Hawaii County Civil Defense at 7:15 p.m. for Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

The National Weather Service reports that Tropical Storm Madeline is continuing to weaken, and Hawaii County remains under a Tropical Storm Warning. Madeline is still a powerful storm, and the public is reminded to stay off roads as the center of Madeline continues to pass south of the island tonight.

Starting tomorrow, all County and State facilities, offices and services will be restored including Hele-On Bus service starting with the 3:15 AM bus to West Hawaii. Solid waste transfer stations and landfills will open according to regular schedule.

County Parks will open and programs will resume on a case by case basis pending damage assessments that will occur tomorrow morning.

• UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College will reopen tomorrow.
• DOE public and Charter schools will remain closed tomorrow.
• Private school families are encouraged to check with their schools for more information.

As of 5 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that Madeline was located about 115 miles south of Hilo moving west at 12 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour.

High wind, high surf, and heavy rain conditions are continuing to affect Hawai‘i Island. If possible and safe, shelter in place or with family and friends. Otherwise, a list of open emergency shelters is available at hawaiicounty.gov.

Some roads remain closed at this time due to flooding:

• Kamehameha Highway in Hilo between Manono and Ponahawai
• Lihiwai Street through Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo
• East Kawailani Street below Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo

Civil Defense continues to maintain close communications with the National Weather Service. Any decision made is based on the best available information at that time.

Monitor your local radio broadcasts for information updates and go to hawaiicounty.gov or call 935-0031 for further information and the details of this message.

Thank you for listening, this is your Hawai‘i County Civil Defense.