Backyard Hawaii

Hurricane Preparedness in Hawaii: August 2007

Flossie Takes Aim at the Islands – but who will win?

What kind of a name is Flossie anyway? I mean REALLY! What?! Is she going to come on in and floss through our streets?

Honolulu Advertiser reports at 12noon today, August 13, 2007:

Hurricane Flossie has dropped from a Category 4 hurricane to a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds around 125 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Flossie is 425 miles southeast of Hilo and continues to move west-northwest around 15 mph. It is not expected to change in strength over the next 24 hours.

Forecasters earlier had said cooler weather would weaken the storm to a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained wind of at least 74 mph, by the time it passes about 70 miles south of the Big Island late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

But today forecasters said they now expected a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained wind of at least 111 mph, to pass the Islands.

SO LET’S PRAY FOR COOLER WEATHER TO WEAKEN THIS STORM EVEN MORE.

I believe in miracles – do you?
I believe in the power of 2.
I believe in the power of 2 or more.
I believe in the power of 2 or more asking…
So let’s all ask together – shall we?

That Hurricane Flossie will just plain ol’ GO AWAY and not come back another day, and keep the Big Island of Hawaii safe, and keep it completely away from Oahu and all other islands.

+++++++++++++++++++

Ok – I also believe in being prepared for the worst when threats of a hurricane are looping, while hoping and praying for the best.

With tropical Storm Flossie, which has the potential to turn into Hurricane Flossie, is currently on track to pass south of the Hawaiian Islands this Tuesday, here are a few things to be “Hurricane Prepared”.

It’s interesting how Hawaiians are bound together in love and Aloha and form “ohanas” of non-blood relatives. (Ohana = family – most often referring to people you’re close to, and while you may not be related to them by blood – you’re related to them by Spirit.)

I think it’s this separation from any other state in America, being on the most remote island chain in the world, and susceptible to “the elements” of wind, fire, rain and hurricanes that keep us tightly bound together as Hawaiians – both imported Hawaiians, and exported Hawaiians.

Deb’s terms:
(Imported Hawaiians = People who fall in love with Hawaii from the mainland and who now call Hawaii their home.)

(Exported Hawaiians = People who were born and raised in Hawaii but have since moved to the mainland for better jobs, opportunities and affordable homes and who will always call Hawaii their home.)

Suggestions of items to have on hand for Hurricane Preparedness are as follows.

A gallon of water per person for at least a week. (For a family of four, this means 4×7=28 gallons.)

A 7-day food supply for each person.

A week’s worth of medication.

Canned Food WITH a can opener.

Flashlights. Replacement batteries.

Battery operated radio to stay in touch with what’s going on.

Clean Cloths (yah – go do your laundry to prepare for the Hurricane.

Personal hygiene supplies, most notably toilet paper.

Sleeping bags or warm blankets.

Paper Plates, cups and disposable cutlery.

Essential family documents should be ready available – but safe.

One suggested measure to protect your homes is using masking tape on windows to prevent shattered glass from flying amuck.

Even better, board up your windows, a costlier yet more effective measure.

What other suggestions or unique ideas do you have about how you prepare for a hurricane? Anything you share will help our Ohana here in Hawaii.

If you run a home business, here are additional tips for you to protect your investment/business from a Hurricane:

Have data backups kept on CDs or DVDs offsite. Or use a remote backup solution that backs up your entire system.

Scan pictures into your computer for safe keeping so you don’t lose one of your most cherished possessions, God-forbid there’s a flood in your home, or extensive water damage.

Have a battery backup on each of your computers so that when there are power surges, you don’t damage your computer, lose the work you’re in the middle of, and gives you time to save everything before you shut down properly.

A charged cell phone, with a battery backup ready for when the battery dies.

Please post a comment to share your love, support, prayers and IDEAS on how to help our Hawaii Ohana be prepared and safe:

What other suggestions or unique ideas do you have about how you prepare for a hurricane? Anything you share will help our Ohana here in Hawaii, and we’ll be forever grateful…

Mahalo nui loa for your thoughts and prayers this week!