24 AUG 2018: Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday, dumping 12 inches of rain in as many hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state’s first hurricane since 1992. Meanwhile, an approaching typhoon has whipped up strong winds, waves and heavy rain in southern South Korea, leaving one person missing and one injured, while another typhoon headed for western Japan on Thursday.

Hawaii
The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches (76 centimetres) before the system passes. Bands of rain extended 350 miles (566 kilometres) from the hurricane’s centre.

Lane was not projected to make direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm.

“You do not need a direct strike to have major impacts from a hurricane this strong,” said Steve Goldstein, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington.

The Category 4 storm could bring dangerous surf of 20 feet and a storm surge of up to 4 feet, forecasters said.

Tropical storm conditions, with winds of 73 mph (118 kph), were expected to reach the Big Island, Hawaii’s easternmost major island, later Thursday morning, with hurricane conditions possible later in the day.

As of 2 a.m., the hurricane was 335 miles (540 kilometres) south of Honolulu and moving northwest. Maximum winds had weakened slightly to 130 mph, the National Weather Service said.

The storm was expected to turn to the north later Thursday and into Friday, with little change expected in forward speed. The centre of the system could move close to or over portions of the main islands on Thursday or Friday. The storm will then likely turn to the west Saturday and Sunday and accelerate, forecasters said.

Shelters opened Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns that the main highway on the island’s south coast could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii’s sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there’s not enough shelter space statewide and advised people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

Authorities also warned that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64 kph) and that for most people they should be a “last resort.”

“Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions,” the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a Honolulu suburb, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

“We’re getting some bags of rice and, of course, some Spam,” she said of the canned lunchmeat that’s popular in Hawaii.

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week, and local government workers were told to stay home unless they are essential employees.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and must stay put. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The US Navy was moving ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Donald Trump issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to co-ordinate disaster relief efforts with the state.

South Korea

Typhoon Soulik is forecast to make landfall at the southwestern town of Seocheon at 3 a.m. Friday, dumping 3-6 inches (7-15 centimetres) of rain and gusts of up to 160 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, meteorologists said. It is expected to weaken after crossing the Korean Peninsula’s mountainous terrain.

President Moon Jae-in instructed officials to review whether to reschedule or change venues for rare reunions of Korean families separated by war. The second round of meetings is set for Friday at a North Korean mountain resort where the typhoon is expected to pass.

A 23-year-old woman was listed as missing after she was apparently swept away by waves while taking a photo on Jeju Island on Wednesday night, a disaster response agency said.

It said the waves also left a 31-year-old man injured.

More than 200 flights have been cancelled in South Korea and many schools throughout the country plan to cancel classes on Friday.

Moon called for special efforts to minimize damage that’s expected from the typhoon.

Japan

Another typhoon called Cimarron is expected to cross western Japan on Thursday night. Japan’s weather agency has warned of strong gusts, high waves and heavy rain.

Airlines cancelled over 300 flights to and from airports in the Shikoku and Kinki regions, according to Japan’s Kyodo News service.

On Wednesday morning, three university students went missing along the coast of the central Japanese city of Shizuoka, Kyodo said.

South Korean officials said the second typhoon won’t likely affect the Korean Peninsula.