HONOLULU — Over a million people in Hawaii are already seeing the first signs of Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 cyclone that could become the first major hurricane to make landfall there in 26 years.

The storm is moving closer to the Hawaiian islands with sustained winds of 145 mph and forecasters say it’s “on course to pass very close” to the islands or make landfall from Thursday through Friday. It could be so devastating that authorities are urging residents to set aside two weeks worth of food and water.

“Be prepared to shelter in place with 14 days of food supplies and water and any other necessities,” Hawaii Gov. David Ige said at a press conference Wednesday.

Buses around Honolulu have been picking up residents in need and taking them to shelters. All public schools canceled classes until further notice and many state employees have been asked to stay home.

It’s unclear how close Lane will get to the islands and how much damage it would cause. Forecasters say the storm threatens to bring dangerous winds, landslides to Hawaii with ocean water and heavy rain causing major flooding.

The storm was in the Pacific about 260 miles south of the Big Island town of Kailua-Kona early Thursday.

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Why is Hurricane Lane so rare?
Only two hurricanes have made landfall ever. Hurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii and some people haven’t lived through one. Hurricane Dot was the first one to hit the islands in 1959, followed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Other than hurricanes, there have only been two tropical storms that made landfall.

There are only a few storms in the Central Pacific. The Atlantic or Eastern Pacific usually see many more storms. Plus the Hawaiian islands present a small target in the vast Pacific Ocean. Hawaii gets a named storm within 60 miles of its coastline about once every four years on average, forecasters say.

Tropical storm force winds stretch over 230 miles, which is greater than the distance from Hilo to Honolulu. Even if the hurricane doesn’t make landfall, it could have widespread impact.

All of the Hawaiian islands are under weather alerts. A hurricane warning is in effect for Hawaii and Maui counties — meaning hurricane conditions are expected there. Oahu and Kauai are under a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions are possible and that winds of at least 39 mph are anticipated in the comings days.

How are people reacting?
People have been rushing to stores for supplies. They are stocking up on canned foods, ramen, water and toilet paper.

Some were going for generators and also plywood to board their windows. Others have been filing up propane tanks and waiting in lines that circle around the block to get gas for their cars.

“(I’m) filling up my bathtub with some water, hoping to board up my main windows in time,” a shopper on the Big Island, Shana Bartolome, told CNN affiliate KHON on Tuesday.

Authorities are asking people to seek shelter before it’s too late or stay in their homes if they believe those structures can withstand hurricane winds.

And many others are leaving. Long lines were seen at airports in Honolulu as hundreds of people were trying to catch flights out of the islands before the storm comes closer.

The 15 airports throughout the state will remain open as long they don’t suffer damage to their infrastructure or the debris “makes flight operations unsafe,” the Hawaii Department of Transportation said in a statement.

President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii on Wednesday ahead of the storm.

In a statement announcing Trump’s approval, Gov. David Ige said Hawaii had submitted the request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to help with the impact the hurricane may have in the islands.

“The approval of the Presidential Disaster Declaration means that Hawai’i will have quick and efficient access to federal resources in the wake of Hurricane Lane, as our communities and residents recover from any damage and losses caused by the storm. We are grateful to the president and FEMA for the swift approval of our request as our state braces for the severe weather ahead,” the governor said.

What are experts saying?
Tropical-storm-force winds — 39-73 mph — and rain could be seen on portions of the Big Island and Maui County on Thursday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

As the outer bands of Hurricane Lane continue approaching the islands, steady and heavy rain could lead to major flash flooding. Most areas are expected to see 10 to 15 inches while some could get more than 20 inches of rain.

The downpours could also lead to landslides.

Another important threat is storm surge.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane,” the hurricane center said.

The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

While the exact path of of Lane remains uncertain, CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri says, the storm could weaken as it nears the islands. Conditions could trigger a weakening of Lane in the coming days but it would still pose danger as it’s likely to remain a Category 1 cyclone.

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