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Emergency request after Lala
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green signed a formal request asking the White House to issue a presidential emergency declaration for Hawaiʻi following Hurricane Lala, covering Hawaiʻi County, Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu.
“Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green on Saturday signed a formal request asking the White House to issue a presidential emergency declaration for Hawaiʻi”
Green said, “Hurricane Lala caused severe damage across our state and placed an extraordinary strain on communities already recovering from previous disasters,” as the state sought immediate federal assistance to protect public health and safety, maintain essential services and support communities still recovering.
The request described Lala bringing about 20 to 40 inches of rain to some areas, triggering severe flooding, runoff and landslides, with rural Kaʻū on the Big Island experiencing some of the most and worst impacts.
At the height of the storm, about 200,000 customers throughout Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu lost power, and when the request was submitted about 11,290 customers on Hawaiʻi Island remained without electricity.
The state said it was requesting federal Public Assistance Category B emergency protective measures and Direct Federal Assistance, including deployment of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team personnel and large-capacity emergency generators.
Federal help as Moke nears
Hawaiʻi officials said the request was made as Tropical Storm Moke approached, with the state seeking specialized federal resources to keep essential services operating while another storm approaches.
Green told Hawaii News Now, “We are asking for specialized federal resources to protect our communities, care for our people and keep essential services operating while another storm approaches,” and said he had been in direct contact with the White House and federal officials as recovery efforts continued.
CBS News reported that Tropical Storm Moke was expected to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph early Sunday morning and movement west at 15 mph, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
CBS News also quoted Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen warning that “Recent impacts from Tropical Storm Lala mean that even light to moderate rain and wind could trigger flooding, debris, downed trees, roadway issues and power outages,” as a flash flood watch was issued for parts of the Big Island.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that Green had submitted a request asking President Trump to issue an emergency declaration for both Lala and Moke, while the islands were still reeling from last weekend’s damage.
Mortuary, power, and recovery
The request tied Hurricane Lala’s impacts to ongoing recovery needs, including severe slope failure at Nāʻālehu Cemetery that disinterred human remains and created an urgent cultural, public health and operational challenge requiring specialized mortuary resources.
“Deployment of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team personnel and other specialists”
Green’s request sought federal assistance that included “Deployment of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team personnel and other specialists” for recovery, identification, documentation and reinterment of human remains, alongside federal technical and logistical support for critical facilities and essential services.
The state also asked for “Large-capacity emergency generators and federal technical and logistical support for critical facilities and essential services,” and for federal experts and equipment to establish microgrids or comparable interim power systems until permanent electrical service is restored.
KITV reported that Green had authorized 100 hotel rooms for Big Island residents through accommodations from the Department of Human Services as Moke’s forecast to pass south of the islands this weekend.
The request and preparedness efforts were supported by Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, with the statement urging “swift approval of Gov. Green’s request for an emergency declaration and the additional federal assistance it will provide” as recovery demands continued from Hurricane Lala and other disasters.