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Hurricane Lane Expected to Get Close to Hawaiian Islands Thursday

Stores in Oahu have reportedly been “overrun with customers” buying storm essentials.

Officials in Hawaii are prepping for “damaging wind, power outages, flooding rain, and dangerous surf” as Hurricane Lane is poised to approach the islands or make landfall Thursday, according to The Honolulu Star Advertiser. “This storm, this Hurricane Lane, is a dangerous storm, and we’ve got to take it very, very seriously,” Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said at a press conference. “We’re all working together to make sure we plan for the worst and hope for the best.” A hurricane warning was issued for Hawaii island and Maui County, and watch warnings were issued to Oahu and Kauai county. Forecasters predict that the center of the storm could “move very close to or over the main Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday.” Hawaii’s Department of Education canceled classes until further notice, and government offices will remain closed for the rest of the week. Officials were reportedly still deciding which shelters to open for the homeless and public ahead of the storm. The newspaper reports that stores in Oahu have been “overrun with customers” seeking storm essentials. While the hurricane has weakened from a Category 5 storm to a Category 4, Governor David Ige urged residents to have a “two-week supply of food” on hand and to have a family evacuation plan ready.