When Hurricane Lala swept past the Hawaiian Islands between August 14 and 16, it brought hurricane-strength winds and torrential rains that tore roofs off houses, flooded roads and cut off access, and downed trees and power lines. According to Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green, Lala caused loss of life and significant damage to private property and infrastructure across the state, with at least 250,000 customers losing power. Some parts of the state received as much as 45 inches of rain during Hurricane Lala, and several mudslides were reported. Now, even as a second tropical storm takes aim at Hawaiʻi, Team Rubicon has stood up Hurricane Lala disaster response operations in Hawaiʻi.
On the Big Island, the veteran-led disaster relief nonprofit deployed a Quick Reaction Force on August 19 that has been conducting welfare checks on previously trapped residents, providing route clearance on streets and in neighborhoods, and assisting with infrastructure as requested. The QRF team is expected to serve across Hawaiʻi island through at least Saturday, August 24.
Team Rubicon volunteers, known as Greyshirts, also begin deploying to Oʻahu on a full disaster relief operation on August 22, where they will muck out homes, tarp roofs, and conduct chainsaw and general debris removal operations to clear storm damage from residences. The operation is expected to last into early September.
Local Hawaiʻi Greyshirt recon teams are also on the Big Island and Maui assessing damage from Hurricane Lala, even as planners at the national level prepare for a full operation. Should unmet need from Hurricane Lala remain, or new damage and unmet need occur after Tropical Depression Two-C, Team Rubicon could stand up operations as early as August 27.
According to predictions from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Two-C is expected to arrive on Saturday, August 22, and continue passing the Islands through Monday night. Two-C could produce rainfall totals across the Big Island of 5 to 10 inches, with maximum amounts of 15 inches, which could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected by Lala. On eastern Maui, Two-C is expected to bring rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches, with maximum amounts of 4 inches. One to 2 inches of rain is possible on the other islands.
