Residents of Naalehu and Waiohinu pack belongings fearing another disaster like Lala
Families on the Big Island's south side are packing to flee a second hurricane just weeks after Hurricane Lala wrecked their homes — bad news for a community that has not finished cleaning up from the first one.
- The president approved an emergency declaration for Hawaii ahead of the storm, opening the door to federal help.
- The new hurricane is churning just south of the Big Island, with Naalehu and Waiohinu again in the path.
- Crews are still clearing the stream that flooded the town during Lala, and residents say the work is nowhere near finished.
- One family lost part of their house and their pets when floodwater pushed huge boulders down the mountain and through their yard.
- Some people have already left town; others have vans loaded with documents, keepsakes, first aid kits and flashlights, ready to run for higher ground.
Outlook: Whether families stay or evacuate tonight depends on the storm's track, and another flood would hit a community with almost no recovery buffer left.