Emergency teams have set up 16 evacuation centers, with a further 19 due to open throughout the day, authorities said, as Trump urged
Hawaiians to hunker down and prepare for the worst.
Hawaiian Ocean View (US):
Hurricane Lane drenched Hawaii Thursday ahead of its arrival in the island state, prompting US President
Donald Trump to declare a state of emergency as landslides and flash flooding left roads blocked.
The National Weather Service said Lane — located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Hawaii — remained a powerful hurricane, packing winds in excess of 130 miles per hour, although it was downgraded to category three mid-afternoon local time.
The eye was expected to sweep very close to or over the islands, 2,000 miles southwest of the mainland US, sometime later Thursday.
Up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain had already fallen before dawn, according to federal authorities, with 30 inches expected in the worst-hit areas over the coming four to five days.
This satellite image provided by NOAA on Friday, Aug. 24, shows Hurricane Lane, whose centre was still south and west of the Hawaiian islands. Forecasters said the centre of the storm will move close to or over parts of Hawaii's main islands late Friday, bringing dangerous surf of six meters. (NOAA via the Associated Press)
Brock Long, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said: "We are extremely concerned about the potentials for inland flooding, landslides occurring and damage to the transportation, communications infrastructure."
Residents across the state were stocking up on water, food, gasoline and emergency supplies as Lane drew nearer.
"Last couple of days it's been like this — it's been busy," said Chris, an employee at a gas station in Haleiwa, on the north shore of Oahu island — the location of the capital Honolulu.
"We have been just constantly getting cars filling up. Everybody is in a panic mode right now — everyone is filling up gas, gas cans, propane cans and all that."
Landslides and flooding caused by the first rainstorm partially blocked several roads on Big Island, according to local media.
There were no reports of injuries, but roads were closed because of flash floods and landslides in the Pacific island state. Tourists were advised to stay away from a popular attraction on the island of Maui called the Seven Sacred Pools, a scenic cluster of waterfalls and grottos.
Evacuations were under way on parts of Molokai and Maui islands while power outages were being reported on social media.