Tropical Storm Lala left 40,000+ in Hawaii without power

Hawaii Public Radio reports that strong winds from Tropical Storm Lala toppled trees onto power lines and left thousands of Hawaiian Electric customers in the dark.

What happened

As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 18, more than 40,000 customers were still without power: about 27,200 on Oahu, 10,750 on Hawaii Island and 2,100 on Maui. The utility said some customers on Hawaii Island, especially in rural areas, could be without power for weeks. About 100 mainland utility crew members were expected to help with repairs.

What it means for your home

Island outages can last much longer than a single night. Some rural areas on Hawaii Island may be out for weeks, so a household should plan as if power could be out for days or weeks. Phones, lights, water and food all need a plan.

What to do this week

• Charge your power banks and lanterns now, and keep them in one place.
• Build up a supply of water and shelf-stable food that would last for weeks, not hours.
• Keep a battery or crank radio for updates from the utility.
• Make a list of medicines and any medical device that needs power, and ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on a backup plan.
• Talk with neighbors about who may need help if the outage is long.

The phone charging guide explains how to keep your devices working through a long outage.