(BIVN) – Hawaiian Electric says it is monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Norbert as it moves across the Pacific, and is preparing to activate its emergency response procedures, even as it continues to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Lala.
As of 5 p.m. Friday evening, Tropical Storm Norbert was 1,870 miles east of Hilo, and moving west northwest at 12 mph.
Hawaiian Electric said Norbert is not expected to approach Hawaiʻi until next week, and is closely monitoring forecasts.
“Eyes remain fixed on Tropical Storm Norbert,” wrote the National Weather Service at 3 p.m. HST. “Any potential arrival in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands is at least 10 days away. Forecast uncertainty is characteristically high at that lead time and it will be several days before confidence in impacts, or lack thereof, improves.”
Meanwhile, Hawaiian Electric continues to support the restoration of electric service on Kauaʻi. From the utility:
An advance team from Hawaiian Electric arrived on Kauaʻi on Thursday to plan for the arrival of additional staff, equipment and vehicles to support efforts by the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) to repair damage caused by Hurricane Lowell. Hawaiian Electric will also use a barge to send vehicles from Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi island. The companies are also collaborating to reposition Southern California Edison resources from Hawaiʻi Island and welcome new personnel from California to Kauaʻi.
“Once the storm hit us, and they realized that the biggest impact was Kauaʻi, everybody was asking when we can go. We all know that we’re going to help out, and we want to be a part of that restoration effort,” said Jason Cosma, Hawaiian Electric superintendent, transmission & distribution operations.
