MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised members of the Filipino community in Hawaii to brace themselves for the impact of Hurricane Lane.
The US National Weather Service said the hurricane would move dangerously close to the Hawaiian islands and would potentially bring damaging winds, prolonged heavy rainfall and life-threatening flashfloods.
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"The DFA reiterates its advisory to the 375,000 members of the Filipino Community to prepare emergency kits good for 14 days and to heed all the warnings and advise of Hawaii State and Federal government authorities and the specific warnings for their areas," the DFA said.
The DFA also announced that the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu will be operating half day on Thursday (Hawaii time) and will be closed on Friday.
This is to ensure the safety of its personnel and clients as the Pali Highway leading to the consulate will be closed Thursday night.
Meanwhile, an official of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency said it is prepared with several barges with food, water and supplies for Hawaii.
The federal agency moved the supplies into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago.
FEMA Administrator Brock Long said in a telephone news conference Wednesday that the agency has had a team on Hawaii's Big Island for months after Kilauea volcano began erupting. — with Associated Press